A Birmingham businessman is to plough all his firm’s profits into conserving wildlife in Africa – in memory of his late wife who loved animals.

Former GKN and MG Rover executive Rob Ball established his human resources and management consultancy, called Naturally Concerned three years. ago as a tribute to his wife Alison.

He set up the firm as a tribute to his wife Alison who died from a brain tumour at the age of just 50 in 2008.

The Rednal-based company operates as a normal HR and management consultancy, but all net profits from the limited company are diverted to wild animal conservation in central and southern Africa.

Mr Ball, well known in Midland cricketing circles and a former committee member at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, previously held HR director positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover.

All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison’s favourite wildlife charities.

His late wife was passionate about animal conservation in Africa and travelled there often, supporting charities such as the Namibia-based Africat Foundation, which preserves big cats such as cheetahs and leopards.

Rob said his wife loved being in Africa observing and photographing animals in the wild and was enthusiastic about helping animals under threat.

“When you lose a spouse it causes you to pause and re-examine your priorities in life,” he said.

“Having spent more than 25 years in the corporate world I decided it was time to use my expertise in a more constructive and thoughtful way. That’s how Naturally Concerned was born.

“We offer HR and management advice on a wide range of issues including leadership, employee development, training, manpower, recruitment and motivation.

“But we operate with a more ethical edge than many consultancies.

“Our starting point is the firm belief that businesses should treat their employees and partners in a principled and moral way, and that those values should hold firm, even when a company is under economic and financial pressures,” he said.

“My wife’s big passions were travel and animals. We have not set this up as a charity but all our net profits will go to animal care.”

Rob Ball was a former director and head of HR development at MG Rover but was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005.

Soon after leaving Longbridge he was appointed HR director with GKN Autostructures.