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