On leaving school in 1982, he decided not to go to university, but to work in the City, trading commodities at the London Metal Exchange.[16] Initially, he joined the American commodity operation of brokerage firm Drexel Burnham Lambert,[18] transferring to Crédit Lyonnais Rouse in 1986.[18] He joined Refco in 1994, and Natexis Metals in 2003.[18]