Victor J Castillo Estevez

BA Hons Business Administration, 1994

"I am in charge of the family business now."

Victor runs a diverse family business in Gran Canaria. It includes the import and export of timber, making wooden doors and windows especially for the island's main industry, the hotel business, as well as running a banana plantation.

After he gained his honours degree in business following three years at Luton, Victor went on to do his MBA in Spain and then worked for a bank, where he was promoted to manager.

Victor said: "Working for the bank was a great experience but I left to work for the family business, it is owned by my father-in-law. It's been much more enjoyable to work for the family, there is more responsibility but it is also more exciting."

"But it is only thanks to my studies at Luton that I am able to run the business. If you don't have that kind of background, it would be impossible to do a good job."

The business, which employs 50 people, is doing very well.

"We have been able to invest in property and land," said Victor, who is managing director.

"Last week I participated in a Conference of Medicine & Sport" organised by the Town Hall of Galdar in Gran Canaria. All the people who participated in the Conference were doctors in medicine, except one Taekwondo Master and myself."

"My role at the Conference was to talk about how we could promote sports as a way to keep healthy," continues Victor.

"I talked about how we could use marketing and advertising strategies to promote sports and how to reach a massive audience by advertising in different channels of communication."

" The Conference was very successful with a lot of people attending. Both the organisers and myself hope that next years Conference of Medicine and Sport will be as successful as this one."

Business is not Victor's only interest in life. Keeping him busy is married life with two children, aged five and three. Victor also enjoys Tae Kwon Do - he took up martial arts at Luton - and has become a black belt in the sport. He practices three times a week to keep fit as well as playing squash and football.

Victor added: "It is nine years since I left university, and I'd love to get in touch with people I used to know in Luton. I really enjoy receiving the alumni magazine, to find out about my former classmates. It is my only contact with England now."

"Anyone who would like to get in touch should email me on jfcr00@terra.es

Interview took place in 2003.