Mike Soutar

Mike Soutar is an entrepreneur, broadcaster, and leadership expert who specialises in building and transforming businesses through periods of uncertainty. Best known as the meticulous interrogator on BBC One's The Apprentice for 14 years, he founded and led Shortlist Media from a five-person start-up to a multi-million-pound sale, and previously transformed iconic brands including FHM, Kiss FM, and the Evening Standard into market leaders. His debut book, Next Gen CEO: 60 Lessons for Leaders in an Uncertain World, published by Pan Macmillan, distils decades of entrepreneurial experience into practical guidance for modern leaders. Through his speaking engagements and advisory work, Mike equips executives and founders with the resilience, strategic clarity, and adaptability needed to lead effectively in rapidly changing business environments.

In 2007, against the backdrop of a global financial crisis, Mike Soutar launched Shortlist Media with just five employees and grew it into a 200-strong business that redefined UK magazine publishing before securing a multi-million-pound sale eight years later. That bold move capped a career already distinguished by his transformative leadership of iconic brands including FHM, Kiss FM, and the Evening Standard, each of which he steered to market-leading positions. For 14 years, millions of viewers have watched him apply that same exacting eye for talent and potential as one of Lord Sugar's trusted advisors on BBC One's The Apprentice, where his meticulous interviewing style has become a hallmark of the show. Now, with his debut book Next Gen CEO: 60 Lessons for Leaders in an Uncertain World published by Pan Macmillan, Mike distils decades of entrepreneurial experience into practical guidance for modern leaders navigating complexity and change.

Mike's credentials rest on a proven ability to build, scale, and revitalise businesses across multiple sectors. As Managing Director of Kiss FM in the early 2000s, he delivered record-breaking success, whilst his editorial leadership transformed Smash Hits and FHM into cultural phenomena that shaped British media. He also edited Maxim in the United States and played a pivotal role in the largest UK media business sale of the last two decades. Beyond his executive achievements, Mike continues to shape strategy and governance as a Non-Executive Director at Scottish Rugby and a Trustee of V&A Dundee, alongside advisory roles with fast-growth businesses spanning fintech, data, contemporary art, and social media. His writing and speaking on entrepreneurship, resilience, and leadership have made him a sought-after voice for organisations seeking insight from someone who has consistently delivered results in both stable and turbulent markets.

Through his speaking engagements, Mike equips leaders with the mindset and tools to thrive amid uncertainty. Drawing on real-world lessons from building start-ups, turning around established brands, and mentoring emerging talent, he helps audiences develop the resilience, strategic clarity, and adaptability that define effective leadership today. His sessions challenge conventional thinking whilst offering actionable frameworks that executives and founders can apply immediately to their own organisations. Whether addressing the complexities of modern business transformation or the human qualities required to lead through change, Mike's approach combines hard-won experience with genuine warmth and accessibility, leaving audiences not just inspired but practically equipped to lead with confidence in an unpredictable world.