Many of his peers in other sectors would envy Angus Russell. With strong cashflows, negligible debt, and products largely insulated from currency fluctuations and the vagaries of consumer demand, Shire, the speciality pharmaceutical group, is protected from some of the greatest current pressures on other businesses.

The weak dollar has had little impact; the credit squeeze has left his company unaffected; and even some of the tensions over expiring patents that are putting stress on rival drug manufacturers have proved less problematic for Shire.