Full Name: Simon Ford
Position and Company Name: Portfolio director, Africa Oil Week/Investing in African Mining Indaba, Hyve Group
Main Activity of the Company: Event organising
Date and Place of Birth: September 7, 1982, Hastings, UK
Education: BA (Hons) (business studies), University of Brighton
First Job: Waking up at 05:30 every morning before school to deliver newspapers
Size of First Pay Packet: £9 a week
Number of People under Your Leadership: 27
Management Style: Consultative
Personal Best Achievement: Prior to joining Hyve, I launched the UK’s first-ever event on urban air mobility, the future of the aerospace industry and air transport
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Oliver Thomas, of Quartz Events – we started our careers at the same time and worked together for several years in Canada. He has been a trusted source of personal advice, industry knowledge and career guidance
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Usain Bolt – a larger-than-life character who literally took it all in his stride and achieved greatness
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Clive Beddoe, founder and chairperson of the board of Canadian airline WestJet
Philosophy of Life: Work hard, but remember to laugh, enjoy yourself and be kind to others
Biggest-Ever Opportunity: Moving to Canada in 2008, where I started my events career at entry level as a print advertising sales executive. I have never looked back
Biggest-Ever Disappointment: England losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup final to South Africa
Hope for the Future: That my two children to grow up in a peaceful world, where they do not have to hear about Brexit everyday
Favourite Reading: BBC Sports Football Gossip Column
Favourite TV Programme: Planet Earth
Favourite Food/Drink: Indian curry and Malbec red wine (although not together)
Favourite Music: Folk rock
Favourite Sport: Football
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and two daughters
Car: BMW X5
Pets: Two cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Poor work ethic, people who talk down to others and loud mobile-phone ring tones
Married: To Louise
Children: Chloe, 4; Rosie, 2