{{Short description|Scottish entrepreneur (born 1966)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox person | image = Mike Soutar at SXSW London June 2025 crop.jpg | caption = Soutar at SXSW London in June 2025 | birth_date = | birth_place = Dundee, Scotland | occupation = Entrepreneur | years_active = 1984–present | television = ''The Apprentice'' | spouse = Bev Hillier (1990s–present) }}
'''Mike Soutar''' is a Scottish entrepreneur. Born in Dundee, he edited issues of ''Jackie'', ''Smash Hits'', ''FHM'', and ''Maxim'' before joining IPC Magazines and launching the magazines ''Nuts'', ''Pick Me Up'', ''TV easy'', and ''Look''. A bout of typhoid led him to set up his own businesses including Shortlist Media Limited, through which he has appeared on the British version of ''The Apprentice'' since its 2011 series. He has also spent time in charge of Emap Radio and ''The Evening Standard'' and has sat on the boards of Scottish Rugby Union, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, the UK government's Board of Trade, and V&A Dundee.
== Life and career == Soutar was born in Dundee<ref>{{Cite web |title=Companies House Records|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/VCVTCSOB4M29dgQDAnSWW7JWaEI/appointments|access-date=18 February 2026 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> and attended Glenrothes High School in Fife between 1978 and 1984, having previously attended South Parks Primary School. He initially wanted to be a PE teacher, but lost interest after a course put him off.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Alasdair |date=8 April 2025 |title=Mike Soutar: 11 interesting facts about Dundee businessman starring on The Apprentice |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/tv-film/3094799/mike-soutar-the-apprentice-dundee-businessman/ |access-date=18 November 2025 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}</ref> He launched his journalism career aged 17 after being hired to write beauty tips for ''Secrets'', a romantic fiction magazine owned by DC Thomson,<ref name=":0" /> before becoming the editor for ''Jackie'' and appearing in some of its comic strips.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=4 April 2025 |title=Dundee-born The Apprentice interviewer says sloppy candidates make him 'indignant' |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/5213991/mike-soutar-the-apprentice/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}</ref> He then moved to London in 1987<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=James |date=9 October 2004 |title=Bloke with the bottle for lads' battle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/10/ipc.emap |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> to work for Virgin Records<ref name=":3" /> before becoming editor of ''Smash Hits'' aged 23.<ref name=":0" />
From 1994, he spent three years as the editor of ''FHM'' before becoming the managing director of Kiss<ref name=":5" /> and spending a brief period in charge of Emap Radio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MEDIA: Soutar selected for top creative Emap Radio role |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/media-soutar-selected-top-creative-emap-radio-role/54735?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> He then joined an unsuccessful Chris Evans-led consortium in March 1999 that would have bought the ''Daily Star'' and made him editor, though a deal collapsed last minute.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=12 April 1999 |title=Away the lads |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/1999/apr/12/7 |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=18 July 2007 |title=Mike Soutar |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/mike-soutar-gc88zhqc8hn |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
In April 1999, he moved to America to become ''Maxim'''s editor-in-chief.<ref name=":7" /> He lasted about a year in this post before returning to Britain to join IPC Magazines,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Soutar |first=Mike |date=1 May 2000 |title=Hello boys! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/may/01/ipc.mondaymediasection |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> where he spent two and a half years in charge of IPC Ignite before being made editorial director for the group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gazette |first=Press |date=7 June 2006 |title=Boss who launched Nuts and Pick Me Up leaves IPC |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/boss-who-launched-nuts-and-pick-me-up-leaves-ipc/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> At the latter, he launched the magazines ''Nuts'', ''Pick Me Up'', ''TV easy'', and ''Look''.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=22 November 2010 |title=Mike Soutar - interview |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/mike-soutar-interview-1509 |access-date=20 November 2025 |website=InPublishing |language=en}}</ref> In early 2006, Soutar spent several months in hospital after salmonella from a chicken caesar wrap gave him typhoid. While recovering, he decided he wanted to work for himself,<ref name=":0" /> and left IPC shortly afterwards, spending six months on gardening leave due to the terms of his contract.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soutar quits IPC Media after six years |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/soutar-quits-ipc-media-six-years/562979?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=20 November 2025 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
Soutar set up Crash Test Media in late 2006,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Gazette |first=Press |date=24 September 2006 |title=Soutar: 'Let me crash test your dummies' |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/soutar-let-me-crash-test-your-dummies/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> a consultancy firm for launching media titles,<ref name=":0" /> before launching Shortlist Media Limited and the magazine ''ShortList'' in 2007<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=24 July 2011 |title=58. Mike Soutar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/24/mike-soutar-mediaguardian-100-2011 |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and the magazine ''Stylist'' in October 2009.<ref name=":8" /> Designers for Shortlist Media helped create magazines at the instruction of candidates on the 2011 series of ''The Apprentice,''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primetime for medialand as The Apprentice takes on magazines |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/primetime-medialand-apprentice-takes-magazines/1075117?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=18 November 2025 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> shortly after which presenter Alan Sugar approached Soutar offering a job interviewing candidates for the series.<ref name=":0" /> Soutar became known for his forensic investigations of candidates' business plans and CVs on the programme;<ref name=":3" /> by April 2024, he had bought several URLs that candidates had claimed to own, debunked several candidates' false claims, ordered from several candidates' existing services, and produced batches of drinks using candidates' proposed recipes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Ben |date=12 April 2024 |title=Mike Soutar: 10 of the best Apprentice moments starring Dundee entrepreneur |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/tv-film/4947268/mike-soutar-best-apprentice-moments/ |access-date=21 November 2025 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> Clips from his interrogations subsequently became popular on TikTok.<ref name=":3" /> Soutar also covered for Tim Campbell as an adviser for one episode in the 2022 series<ref>{{Cite AV media|last=Morris |first=Lauren |title=Tim Campbell replaced as Lord Sugar's aide on this week's Apprentice {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/apprentice-tim-campbell-replaced-exclusive-newsupdate/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> and for two Christmas episodes in 2025.<ref>{{Cite AV media |last=Cormack |first=Morgan |title=The Celebrity Apprentice confirmed to return at Christmas – but one major figure is missing {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/celebrity-apprentice-christmas-2025-newsupdate/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Soutar sold halves of Shortlist in 2013 and 2015 to DC Thomson, who had previously backed the firm.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McLaren |first=Rob |date=3 April 2019 |title=Magazine entrepreneur Mike Soutar to speak at Gleneagles |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/business/862084/magazine-entrepreneur-mike-soutar-to-speak-at-gleneagles/ |access-date=18 November 2025 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2016, he went part-time there<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=16 November 2018 |title=ShortList axes print edition - Prolific North |url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/shortlist-axes-print-edition/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and joined the board of the Independent Press Standards Organisation.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |date=1 October 2019 |title=Evening Standard appoints Shortlist co-founder as its first chief executive |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/evening-standard-appoints-shortlist-co-founder-mike-soutar-as-first-chief-executive/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> Soutar left the former in late 2018, around the time its print version was discontinued,<ref name=":2" /> and left the latter in October 2019 to become ''The Evening Standard'''s first chief executive officer,<ref name=":4" /> which he left in late May<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayhew |first=Freddy |date=28 April 2020 |title=Evening Standard chief executive Mike Soutar steps down during pandemic after six months in role |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/evening-standard-chief-executive-mike-soutar-steps-down-during-pandemic-after-six-months-in-role/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> after the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom made him decide he wanted a portfolio career. In April 2025, he held board positions at Scottish Rugby Union, V&A Dundee, and the UK government's Board of Trade and was living in Epping Forest with his wife of nearly thirty years, former ''Just Seventeen'' editor Bev Hillier.<ref name=":3" /> It was reported in January 2026 that he would release a book, ''Next Gen CEO'', later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2026 |title=Pan Mac Signs Mike Soutar Book |url=https://www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article-detail/pan-mac-signs-mike-soutar-book/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=www.bookbrunch.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Soutar, Mike}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Scottish businesspeople Category:21st-century Scottish businesspeople Category:Businesspeople from Dundee Category:People educated at Glenrothes High School Category:Scottish magazine editors