Mike Soutar

Mike Soutar is a distinguished entrepreneur and media executive with a three-decade career defined by organisational transformation and venture creation. Recognised nationally as an exacting interviewer on BBC One’s The Apprentice, he applies the same analytical rigour to the business world that he uses to scrutinise the plans of aspiring candidates. His career trajectory saw him rise from a journalist in Scotland to managing editorial revitalisations of Smash Hits and FHM, eventually serving as Managing Director of Kiss FM and playing a pivotal role in the sale of IPC Media to Time Warner. Demonstrating significant resilience, Mike co-founded Shortlist Media during the global financial crisis. He successfully scaled the business from a five-person start-up into a major multi-platform group employing 200 staff, notably disrupting the UK market with the launch of Stylist. Today, he maintains an influential presence across various sectors, serving as a Non-Executive Director for Scottish Rugby and the fintech company LoopFX, a Trustee of the V&A Dundee, and an Advisor to the UK Government’s Board of Trade. On the speaking circuit, Mike combines narrative wit with substantial experience from the newsroom and the boardroom. He offers audiences a masterclass in leadership, scaling businesses under pressure, and navigating disruptive change. Organisations book him for his practical perspective on entrepreneurship and his ability to articulate the realities of building successful, modern brands. On stage, Mike Soutar is best known for talks on Future of Work, Innovation, Leadership and Strategy. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Business & Consulting and Media & Broadcasting, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Mike Soutar is regularly booked for Business Speaker and Conference Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Mike Soutar travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Mike Soutar would approach your audience.