Peter Simon (born August 1949)[1] is a British businessman who is the founder and owner of fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize.
Peter Simon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Peter Simon August 1949 (age 75) Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Monsoon Accessorize |
| Spouse |
Kate Simon
(m. 1977; div. 2000) |
| Children | 6 |
According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Simon has a net worth of £480 million.[2]
Early life
editBorn 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
editIn 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]
Personal life
editHe 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
edit- ^ "Peter SIMON - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Login". login.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.[dead link]
- ^ a b c Mills, Eleanor (6 January 2013). "Many hippie returns". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ a b Killgren, Lucy (28 September 2007). "Troubled waters divide Monsoon and City". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Monsoon boss Peter Simon heartbroken by death of son". HELLO!. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Second-attempt at float to value Monsoon's founder at pounds 300m". The Independent. 17 December 1997. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Unorthodox style serves Monsoon well". Financial Times. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ Kollewe, Julia (28 September 2007). "Monsoon founder wins fight to go private". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Monsoon founder invests in Loaf". www.furniturenews.net. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ ""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". Archived from the original on 14 February 2019.
- ^ Helliker, Adam (26 August 2007). "A stormy time, Mr Monsoon". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "No sharks, please, we're British". The Economist. 6 December 2001. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Peter Simon -". ARTnews. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (27 October 2015). "Monsoon owner's mega-basement angers neighbours". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 February 2019.