Co Down native Brian Donaldson studied business in Bradford University and had ambitions of becoming a chartered accountant. After graduating, however, his father suggested he should apply for a graduate trainee position in the Maxol forecourt business, owned by the McMullan family. Donaldson’s application was successful and he was offered one of two positions available. “Back in the 80s, there wasn’t a lot of jobs going and it was a particularly tough employment market,” says Donaldson. He joined the company in 1986 as a graduate employee and climbed the ladder to become the CEO of The Maxol Group. “I was…

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