# Mike Soutar

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{{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](/source/SXSW_London) in June 2025
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = [Dundee](/source/Dundee), Scotland
| occupation         = Entrepreneur
| years_active       = 1984–present
| television         = ''[The Apprentice](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series))''
| spouse             = Bev Hillier (1990s–present)
}}

'''Mike Soutar''' is a Scottish entrepreneur. Born in [Dundee](/source/Dundee), he edited issues of [''Jackie''](/source/Jackie_(magazine)), [''Smash Hits''](/source/Smash_Hits), ''[FHM](/source/FHM)'', and [''Maxim''](/source/Maxim_(magazine)) before joining [IPC Magazines](/source/IPC_Magazines) and launching the magazines [''Nuts''](/source/Nuts_(magazine)), [''Pick Me Up''](/source/Pick_Me_Up_(magazine)), [''TV easy''](/source/TV_easy), and [''Look''](/source/Look_(UK_magazine)). A bout of typhoid led him to set up his own businesses including [Shortlist Media Limited](/source/Shortlist_Media_Limited), through which he has appeared on the British version of ''[The Apprentice](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series))'' since [its 2011 series](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series)_series_7). He has also spent time in charge of [Emap Radio](/source/Emap_Radio) and [''The Evening Standard''](/source/The_Evening_Standard) and has sat on the boards of [Scottish Rugby Union](/source/Scottish_Rugby_Union), the [Independent Press Standards Organisation](/source/Independent_Press_Standards_Organisation), the UK government's [Board of Trade](/source/Board_of_Trade), and [V&A Dundee](/source/V%26A_Dundee).

== Life and career ==
Soutar was born in [Dundee](/source/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](/source/Glenrothes_High_School) in [Fife](/source/Fife) between 1978 and 1984, having previously attended South Parks Primary School. He initially wanted to be a [PE](/source/Physical_education) 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](/source/DC_Thomson),<ref name=":0" /> before becoming the editor for [''Jackie''](/source/Jackie_(magazine)) 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](/source/Virgin_Records)<ref name=":3" /> before becoming editor of [''Smash Hits''](/source/Smash_Hits) aged 23.<ref name=":0" /> 

From 1994, he spent three years as the editor of ''[FHM](/source/FHM)'' before becoming the managing director of [Kiss](/source/Kiss_(UK_radio_station))<ref name=":5" /> and spending a brief period in charge of [Emap Radio](/source/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](/source/Chris_Evans_(presenter))-led consortium in March 1999 that would have bought the [''Daily Star''](/source/Daily_Star_(United_Kingdom)) 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''](/source/Maxim_(magazine))'s editor-in-chief.<ref name=":7" /> He lasted about a year in this post before returning to Britain to join [IPC Magazines](/source/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''](/source/Nuts_(magazine)), [''Pick Me Up''](/source/Pick_Me_Up_(magazine)), [''TV easy''](/source/TV_easy), and [''Look''](/source/Look_(UK_magazine)).<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](/source/salmonella) from a chicken caesar wrap gave him [typhoid](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Shortlist_Media_Limited) and the magazine ''[ShortList](/source/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''](/source/Stylist_(magazine)) in October 2009.<ref name=":8" /> Designers for Shortlist Media helped create magazines at the instruction of candidates on [the 2011 series](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series)_series_7) of ''[The Apprentice](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series)),''<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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/TikTok).<ref name=":3" /> Soutar also covered for [Tim Campbell](/source/Tim_Campbell_(businessman)) as an adviser for one episode in [the 2022 series](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series)_series_16)<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](/source/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''](/source/The_Standard_(London_newspaper))'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](/source/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](/source/Scottish_Rugby_Union), [V&A Dundee](/source/V%26A_Dundee), and the UK government's [Board of Trade](/source/Board_of_Trade) and was living in [Epping Forest](/source/Epping_Forest) with his wife of nearly thirty years, former [''Just Seventeen''](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mike Soutar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Soutar) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Soutar?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.