Dean Forbes

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Dean Forbes
Born
Dean Forbes

(1978-05-02) 2 May 1978 (age 46)
England
OccupationBusiness executive
EmployerForterro (2021 – present)
Known forInformation and Technology
Notable workPrimavera Systems
(Vice President)
Oracle
(Vice President)
The Access Group
(president)
TitleCEO at Forterro

Dean Forbes (born 2 May 1978) is a British business executive.[1] He has served as chief executive officer at Forterro, a software solution company which focuses on providing ERP software across Europe, based in London, England since February 2021.[2] Prior to his appointment, he was president responsible for people division at The Access Group, since May 2020.[3] Between 2011 and 2016, Forbes was the CEO at the KDS, a travel and expense management software company, which was acquired by American Express in August 2016.[4] Forbes served at Primavera Systems as vice president for 9 years, from April 2000 until January 2009.[5]

In early ages of his life, Forbes was a football player; he played at Crystal Palace FC which separated with him at the age of 17.[6] He started his career in the IT industry as sales manager at Motorola in 1995. He has appeared four times consecutively on the Powerlists, an annual ranking of influential Black British people in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.[7][8][9][10] Forbes is chairman and co-founder of Forbes Family Group, and partner at Corten Capital both British investing groups.[11]

Biography[edit]

Forbes was born on May 2, 1978, at Lewisham Hospital, and he grew up in a single-parent household in South London, England. Forbes has two young brothers, his mother was suffering from muscular dystrophy, he started to look after them at the age of 11. Forbes at early ages had aspirations to be a professional football player and signed a contract with Crystal Palace F.C., he faced injuries and the club decided to separate with him at the age of 17. He told the Business Insider, at the time of rejection, we went homeless before getting a job in a Call Centre, working for Motorola.[12][13][14]

Career[edit]

Forbes was pursuing football career as a player until he was 17.[15] Since July 1995, he worked as sales manager at both Motorola UK and Isis Telecommunications in England before joining Primavera Systems in April 2000.[16] Forbes served at Primavera Systems as vice president responsible for international growth for 9 years, until the company was sold to Oracle Corporation in January 2009.[17] After acquisition, he worked for one year at Oracle Corporation as vice president responsible worldwide sales until February 2010.[18][19]

In February 2010, Forbes joined KDS, a travel and expense management software company acquired by Amex GBT since August 2016.[20] He served as vice president responsible for commercial operations. He served until July 2011 when he was promoted to chief executive officer of the company, until December 2016.[21] Subsequently, he was appointed chief executive officer at CoreHR, a human resources system company which was acquired later by The Access Group in May 2020.[22][23]

Personal life[edit]

Forbes is married to Danielle Forbes, and a couple has three children.[24]

Charity[edit]

Forbes founded Forbes Family Group, a charity foundation, which has helped more than 1,170 young people move from difficult situations into education or promising careers by 2024.[25][26]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ABOUT DEAN – Forbes Family Group". Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  2. ^ Pollitt, Anna (2022-11-10). "Dean Forbes on football and becoming €1bn Forterro CEO". Spear's. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  3. ^ Phocuswire (2022-07-19). "Dean Forbes on travel, diversity and advice for founders". Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  4. ^ "American Express Global Business Travel Acquires KDS, Global Provider of Integrated Travel SaaS Technology". Amex GBT - United States. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  5. ^ Birch, Scott (2022-09-01). "Dean Forbes – the Forterro CEO aiming for the moon". businesschief.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  6. ^ "Meet the ex-footballer who became a multi-millionaire after being rejected by Premier League club". SPORTbible. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  7. ^ "Dean Forbes". Business Champion Awards. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  8. ^ Hopkin, George (2022-10-28). "Tech CEO named in The Powerlist of influential Black leaders". technologymagazine.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  9. ^ Cumming, Alice (2022-11-09). "Dean Forbes named one of the most influential black people in Britain - Business Leader News". Business Leader. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  10. ^ AfricaNews (2023-10-27). "Here are UK's 10 most influential blacks for 2024". Africanews. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  11. ^ Hopkin, George (2022-10-28). "Tech CEO named in The Powerlist of influential Black leaders". technologymagazine.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  12. ^ "A startup CEO who grew up caring for his siblings and disabled mother reveals his tough journey breaking into tech". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  13. ^ Shah, Sooraj. "Depressed And Homeless: How The Tech Industry Positively Reshaped Two Lives". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  14. ^ Birch, Scott (2022-09-01). "Forterro CEO Dean Forbes – inspirational leadership". businesschief.asia. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  15. ^ Singh, Aditya (2023-03-21). "Meet Dean Forbes, Crystal Palace reject who became homeless at 17 before becoming CEO of tech company valued at $1 billion". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  16. ^ Birch, Scott (2022-09-01). "The inspirational CEO story – Dean Forbes of Forterro". businesschief.eu. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  17. ^ Cassidy, Francesca (2022-06-27). "How I became a… turnaround CEO". Raconteur. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  18. ^ Dufour, Alexis (2010-04-01). "Dean Forbes rejoint la direction de KDS". Déplacements Pros (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  19. ^ Breaking, Travel news (2011-07-12). "New CEO at KDS". Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  20. ^ Business, Matters (2010-02-18). "Getting to know you: Dean Forbes". Business Matters. Retrieved 2024-01-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ "KDS Names Roxana Bressy CEO". Amex GBT - United States. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  22. ^ Darmody, Jenny (2018-05-01). "CoreHR CEO: Recruiters should think like sports agents". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  23. ^ "Confessions of a CEO | Hiscox UK". www.hiscox.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  24. ^ Lewis, Darren (2022-03-03). "The Apprentice's Tim Campbell on his determined sacrifice for his family". The Mirror. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  25. ^ Namasaba, Preta Peace (2024-01-15). "Here's how Dean Forbes went from homelessness to leading a $1 billion software acquisition". BlackStars. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  26. ^ "Tech CEO Dean Forbes named one of the three most influential black people in Britain | Forterro". www.forterro.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
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