Mike Soutar Biography – Mike Soutar Wiki
Mike Soutar is a non-executive Chair of Perfect Storm Productions, an international award-winning television production company that creates high quality factual, factual-entertainment and documentary programming for domestic and international broadcasters. He has held the role since November 2020. As non-executive Chair of Perfect Storm, Soutar leads the successful funding round which secured investment from seven angel investors. He also chairs the monthly operating Board and work closely with Miki Mistrati, the founder, and his small team as a mentor and advisor.
Prior to joining Perfect Storm Productions, Soutar was the Chief Executive Officer of Evening Standard from October 2019 to June 2020. For nearly three years, from November 2016 to September 2019, Soutar was a board member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK. It holds newspapers and magazines to account for their actions, protect individual rights, uphold high standards of journalism and help to maintain freedom of expression for the press.
IPSO’s Board is responsible for the oversight, vision and strategic direction of IPSO. They monitor performance and provide advice, challenge and support. They are responsible for appointing the Complaints Committee.
In 2006, Soutar co-founded Crash Test Media, a development agency working with large media companies in the UK and internationally. With an experienced team of strategists, research experts and editorial and design consultants Crash Test specialises in creating innovative new print and digital launches and reinvigorating existing brands. He worked with Crash Test MediaCrash Test Media from October 2006 to September 2019.
In 2007, he co-founded and chaired Shortlist Media for over ten years. Shortlist Media is one of the fastest-growing young media companies in Britain. ShortList magazine launched in September 2007. Winner of numerous industry awards, ShortList is the UK’s market-leading men’s lifestyle weekly title with an audited ABC of over 500,000. Sister title Stylist was launched in October 2009. Described as “the most influential magazine launch in the last five years” by Enders Analysis, Stylist is the UK’s number one women’s fashion and lifestyle weekly with an ABC of over 400,000. Emerald Street, launched in April 2011, is a highly impactful, daily email-based service for stylish, professional women with over 150,000 active subscribers. Its male equivalent, Mr Hyde, was launched in October 2012 and reaches in excess of 80,000 active subscribers.
The company made its first international steps in 2013 with the launch of Stylist in France, in a joint venture with Groupe Marie Claire. Both Stylist and ShortList have overseas editions in the Middle East. In total, Shortlist Media has won more than 80 industry awards for editorial, commercial, publishing and business excellence since 2007. It has grown from five employees to over 150 in nine years and was #36 on the Fast Track 100 in the Sunday Times’ annual list of growth companies. In 2011, the company was named the UK’s Small to Medium Sized Enterprise of the Year in the National Business Awards.
Soutar served on the Board of IPC Media from 2000 to 2006, first as MD of the men’s lifestyle and entertainment division, Ignite, and then as the Editorial Director of the Group, responsible for development of four weekly launches. He joined during IPC’s period as a leveraged buy-out and was part of the Board team that sold the business to Time Warner.
His career in journalism started at the age of 17 with DC Thomson in Dundee when he wrote beauty tips for romantic fiction magazine Secrets. He then worked for Virgin Records in the mid-1980s before joining Smash Hits where he became editor at the age of 23. In his long illustrious career, Soutar has held a variety of roles in print and broadcast including: Editor-in-Chief, Maxim, US edition, based in New York (1999-2000); Managing Director, Kiss FM Ltd, London (1997-99); Editor, FHM, London (1994-97), Editor, Smash Hits, London (1991-94).
Mike Soutar Apprentice
Mike Soutar is well-known for his appearances on the hit BBC One series The Apprentice where he interviews prospective candidates. He has been an interviewer on BBC’s The Apprentice since 2011.
“Initially we did a task for the teams to create different magazines for different sectors and then pitch to advertisers,” he told The Courier. “I was then approached by Alan (Sugar) who explained he was looking for new people on the interview panel.”
Mike Soutar Age
He was born in 1967.
Mike Soutar Wife
Is Mike Soutar married? He is married to his wife, Bev Soutar. Soutar was 21 when he met his wife. They have two children.
Mike Soutar Net Worth
What is Mike Soutar’s net worth? He has an estimated net worth of £6 million.
Mike Soutar Instagram
Mike Soutar’s Instagram handle is @mike_soutar.