Off hours: In retail, you can never get bored

David Macadam, the chief executive of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres, sticks to a strict, nutritious diet, never eats after 8pm and has followed a daily exercise regime for the past 45 years.

David Macadam, the chief executive of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres. Victor Besa for The National

David Macadam is the chief executive of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC), which represents more than 580 of them. The 64-year-old Canadian has a retail career spanning 35 years. He oversees the MECSC’s corporate vision in the region – the organisation is an affiliate of the International Council of Shopping Centres. Resident in the UAE for 13 years, he is married with three grown-up children: a daughter and two sons.

​How do you spend your weekend?

Weekends are always family time. Thursday evenings during the fine weather are spent around the wood-burning fireplace in the back yard. Included every Friday morning is a bicycle ride of 40 to 50 kilometres at Al Qudra track with my wife. Friday afternoons are normally spent reading books and relaxing with a guitar. Friday evenings are usually spent with friends for dinner and lively conversation. Saturdays include exercise in the gym, golf, reading, writing, relaxing and planning for the week coming.

How did you become a chief executive?​​

As you mature in your career roles, becoming a chief executive is a natural progression for those interested in broadening their careers. For me as well, being a chief executive was part of a natural progression.

What is your go-to gadget?

My iPhone because, like many people, my extensive database is resident on the phone. Although I am personally not active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media platforms, the MECSC is very active. The camera on the iPhone is also very important for recording the many events I am involved with and podcasts and blogs are crucial for my daily listening and reading pleasure. The Duolingo app keeps my mind sharp learning new languages. Notes, Reminder and iTunes are also very important and magazines, such as the Economist, are also part of my weekly habit on the device.

What was the lowest point of your career?

Coming to the realisation many years ago, that understanding the political machinations within an organisation are sometimes more important for your career than stellar skill sets required for the job at hand.

What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?

The retail industry offers a wide, wide range of opportunities; one is never short on possibilities to become bored. It is an amazing business to spend a lifetime in. An industry where you will never stop learning, retail is all about embracing change. By embracing the retail industry and embracing change you will have a career which will fulfil all your dreams.

What is your most indulgent habit?

Working out every morning before coming to work. Having this habit for the past 45 years has been fun and rewarding. Only a few days per year are missed in my regime – a part of my life since my teenage years. These days my workout involves about a one-hour session including a 20-minute walk in our neighbourhood on the way to the gym. At the gym, the stationary bike, elliptical machine, rowing machine, Smith Machine, floor exercises, kettle balls and free weights all form my workout. My favourite guide for isolating muscle groups is the original training book penned by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the early 1980s – a classic weight-training encyclopaedia.

What do you have on your desk at work?

A large computer screen, calendar and a wide open work surface. Generally, before leaving the office I clear my desk and leave a note on my calendar with the five main tasks to be completed the next day.

What can’t you live without?

A proper balanced healthy diet, it’s the key to my good health. Every morning a huge bowl of oatmeal with raisins and fresh fruit begin the day. Several times per week boiled eggs add to breakfast, which is always the largest meal of the day. Lunch is light, usually just fruit and mixed nuts; dinner is light as well with small portions of chicken or lamb with vegetables and salad. I try to not eat anything after 8pm. Bread, rice and other carbohydrates, other than the morning oatmeal porridge, have never contributed much to my diet. Coffee is never part of my diet and tea only rarely. Lots and lots of water make up my daily liquid consumption.

What car do you drive?

My daily driving car is a Pajero. My weekend car is a Mercedes SL 500.

How do you achieve a work-life balance?

Learning to have a balanced life is to learn how to say “no” politely. We all only have a limited amount of time and the priorities you establish for yourself are sacrosanct.

What are you reading right now?

This week I'm reading Dan Brown's The Inferno. I love to read all kinds of books mainly in hard copy plus many magazines, newspapers and blogs online. Normally I have between six and eight books open at one time. Subject matter of the books ranges from investment strategies, personal inspiration, biographies and autobiographies to self-help, salesmanship and fiction.

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