Peter Simon (businessman)

Peter Simon (born August 1949)[1] is a British businessman, and the founder and owner of fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize.

Peter Simon
Born
Peter Simon

August 1949 (age 71)
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounder of Monsoon Accessorize
Net worth£480 million
Spouse(s)
Kate Simon
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 2000)​
Children6

According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Simon has a net worth of £480 million.[2]

Early life

Born in Sri Lanka, he was educated at boarding school before going on to live in a naturist community in Ibiza.[3]

On a road trip from London to Rajasthan, India via Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, he has said he was inspired by the colour and local fashion.[4]

Career

In 1973, Simon started out selling woollen coats on Portobello Market, London.[5] A year later Simon opened Monsoon's first physical outlet in Beauchamp Place, London.[6]

The retail chain was originally known for retailing hippie clothes before Simon re-positioned the company as a mainstream female fashion brand.[7]

In 1984, Simon opened the first branch of accessories retailer Accessorize.[4] In 1989, Simon floated the combined company.[7]

In 2007, Simon bought back all shares in the company held by external investors to become 100 percent owner. He had previously tried to acquire these shares in 2003 and 2004.[8]

In 2014, Simon invested in homewear brand Loaf.[9]

Personal life

He married Kate Simon in 1977.[10] The couple divorced in 2000.[11] In 2017, his son George Simon, a property developer, was involved in a fatal car crash.[5] He previously dated actress Jane Seymour.[3] He has had six children.[3]

A contemporary art collector, he is a trustee of the Tate Gallery.[12] He started the Monsoon Art Collection in 2000.[13]

In 2015, it was reported that he was planning to knock five homes into one in Chelsea, London, which was met with local dissent.[14]

References
  1. "Peter SIMON - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. "Login". login.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. Mills, Eleanor (6 January 2013). "Many hippie returns". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. "Subscribe to read". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019. Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. "Monsoon boss Peter Simon heartbroken by death of son". HELLO!. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  6. "Second-attempt at float to value Monsoon's founder at pounds 300m". The Independent. 17 December 1997. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. "Subscribe to read". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 February 2019. Cite uses generic title (help)
  8. Kollewe, Julia (28 September 2007). "Monsoon founder wins fight to go private". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  9. "Monsoon founder invests in Loaf". www.furniturenews.net. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. ""After the Monsoon; Peter and Kate Simon Created Monsoon and Accessorize. Now It's Their Daughters' Turn to Sparkle on the Silk Route, Says Tara Fischer" - The Evening Standard (London, England), November 4, 2005 | Online Research Library: Questia". www.questia.com. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  11. Helliker, Adam (26 August 2007). "A stormy time, Mr Monsoon". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  12. "No sharks, please, we're British". The Economist. 6 December 2001. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  13. "Peter Simon -". ARTnews. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  14. Sawer, Patrick (27 October 2015). "Monsoon owner's mega-basement angers neighbours". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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