Peter Simon (businessman) explained

Peter Simon
Birth Name:Peter Simon
Birth Place:Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Nationality:British
Occupation:Businessman
Known For:Founder of Monsoon Accessorize
Children:6

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

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. In 1989, Simon floated the combined company.

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. He previously dated actress Jane Seymour. He has had six children.

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peter SIMON - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House). beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. en. 2019-02-13.
  2. Web site: Login. login.thesundaytimes.co.uk. 2019-02-13.
  3. News: Many hippie returns. Mills. Eleanor. 2013-01-06. The Sunday Times. 2019-02-13. en. 0956-1382.
  4. Web site: Killgren . Lucy . 2007-09-28 . Troubled waters divide Monsoon and City . 2019-05-31 . Financial Times . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Monsoon boss Peter Simon heartbroken by death of son. 2017-10-06. HELLO!. en. 2019-02-13.
  6. Web site: Second-attempt at float to value Monsoon's founder at pounds 300m. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/second-attempt-at-float-to-value-monsoons-founder-at-pounds-300m-1289285.html . 26 May 2022 . subscription . live. 1997-12-17. The Independent. en. 2019-05-31.
  7. Web site: 2007-09-28 . Unorthodox style serves Monsoon well . 2019-02-13 . Financial Times . en-GB.
  8. News: Monsoon founder wins fight to go private. Kollewe. Julia. 2007-09-28. The Guardian. 2019-02-13. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  9. Web site: Monsoon founder invests in Loaf. www.furniturenews.net. en. 2019-02-13.
  10. Web site: "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. 14 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002530/https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-138325742/after-the-monsoon-peter-and-kate-simon-created-monsoon. dead.
  11. Web site: A stormy time, Mr Monsoon. Helliker. Adam. 2007-08-26. Express.co.uk. en. 2019-02-13.
  12. News: No sharks, please, we're British. 2001-12-06. The Economist. 2019-02-13. 0013-0613.
  13. Web site: Peter Simon -. ARTnews. en-US. 2019-02-13.
  14. News: Monsoon owner's mega-basement angers neighbours. Sawer. Patrick. 2015-10-27. 2019-02-13. en-GB. 0307-1235.

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