BEHIND every business there is a band of men in grey suits, faceless executives who inhabit the boardroom with absolute power, which they wield through memos.

The archetypal "suit" behind Corus fits the bill perfectly and it's no surprise, then, that the chairman is an accountant.

Sir Brian Moffat was born with a steel spoon in his mouth and weaned on closures and job losses. His father, Festus, and mother, Agnes, were forced south from Falkirk by foundry closures.

Sir Brian was educated at Hulme Grammar School, Oldham and, after hearing how long it took to train as a vet, went into accountancy.

In 1968, he joined British Steel and took charge of Shotton works after his boss became ill. When he joined the firm, 300,000 people worked for what was the powerhouse of the UK's economy. For the next three decades, Moffat would manage its decline in a calculated and distant way - the hallmark of a man of figures.

By his own admission, the 62-year-old "doesn't smile a lot" but then there's little to smile about in a beleaguered industry which now only supports 22,000 people.

For pleasure, he fishes, shoots and farms in Monmouthshire. For a job, he oversees an industry in trouble and takes tough decisions to try to keep it alive.

A shy man, he shuns public exposure and hates having his picture taken. Cool under pressure, he is prepared to talk on unions and politicians alike, the latter he hates for interfering in business.

The last vestiges of the country's steel production now cling to life in Wales and the North of England.

Sir Brian has lived with steel for most of his working life and claims to act in the best interests of the employees by taking decisions which will maintain the industry, and hence their jobs.

But home demand for steel has dropped by 13 per cent in the past 12 years in this country, while in Europe, the domestic market has risen by more than 20 per cent.

Britain now has to export 50 per cent of production to maintain volume and is hampered by the strength of the pound and the cheapness of competitors.

Dogged, determined and dour, Sir Brian has earned the title of the gloomiest man in British industry. But unless market conditions change and the demand for British steel increases, it seems understandable that he has little to be cheerful about.