Syed Ahmed (businessman): Difference between revisions
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Ahmed was born in [[Bangladesh]],<ref>[http://biogs.com/apprentice/syed.html Syed Ahmed] Bios.</ref><ref name=dailymail/><ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/203/203701_sugar_begins_hunt_for_new_apprentice.html Sugar begins hunt for new Apprentice] Manchester Evening News.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5270904.stm Media troubling Apprentice stars] BBC News.</ref> in the [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]] region,<ref name=newage/> but at a young age moved with his parents to the [[United Kingdom]] and was brought up in the [[Aldgate East]] area of the [[East End of London]].<ref>[http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=411698&in_page_id=2 ''Apprentice star Syed arrested''] This Is Money UK. Martin Smith and James Tapper, Mail on Sunday. 14 August 2006, 4:05pm.</ref><ref name=newage>[http://www.newagebd.com/2008/oct/10/oct10/xtra_inner4.html New Age Xtra] October 10-16, 2008.</ref> |
Ahmed was born in [[Bangladesh]],<ref>[http://biogs.com/apprentice/syed.html Syed Ahmed] Bios.</ref><ref name=dailymail/><ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/203/203701_sugar_begins_hunt_for_new_apprentice.html Sugar begins hunt for new Apprentice] Manchester Evening News.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5270904.stm Media troubling Apprentice stars] BBC News.</ref> in the [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]] region,<ref name=newage/> but at a young age moved with his parents to the [[United Kingdom]] and was brought up in the [[Aldgate East]] area of the [[East End of London]].<ref>[http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=411698&in_page_id=2 ''Apprentice star Syed arrested''] This Is Money UK. Martin Smith and James Tapper, Mail on Sunday. 14 August 2006, 4:05pm.</ref><ref name=newage>[http://www.newagebd.com/2008/oct/10/oct10/xtra_inner4.html New Age Xtra] October 10-16, 2008.</ref> |
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He attended the [[Sir John Cass]] school from the age of 11 to 17. Ahmed studied for a [[BTEC]] First Certificate in Applied Science. |
He attended the [[Sir John Cass]] school from the age of 11 to 17 achieving 7 GCSEs. From 17 to 18 Ahmed studied for a [[BTEC]] First Certificate in Applied Science. |
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He was a corporal in the Shorditch 444 Air Training Corp, achieving 52 flights in a [[De Havilland Chipmunk]]. |
He was a corporal in the Shorditch 444 Air Training Corp, achieving 52 flights in a [[De Havilland Chipmunk]]. |
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During ''The Apprentice'', Ahmed had a relationship with fellow contestant [[Michelle Dewberry]]. After the show finished, Dewberry became pregnant and the couple stated they were hoping to get married. |
During ''The Apprentice'', Ahmed had a relationship with fellow contestant [[Michelle Dewberry]]. After the show finished, Dewberry became pregnant and the couple stated they were hoping to get married. After being admitted to hospital with stomach pains in August 2006, Dewberry was told that she had [[miscarriage|miscarried]] the baby.<ref>{{cite news | date = [[2006-08-23]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5279946.stm | title = Apprentice winner loses her baby | publisher = [[BBC News]] | accessdate = 2006-08-24}}</ref> A few weeks later, the relationship between the two broke down, and they subsequently stopped seeing each other.<ref>[http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/22445/the-apprentices-michelle-dewberry-and EntertainmentWise]</ref> |
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== Businesses == |
== Businesses == |
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Ahmed is currently the [[CEO]] of a company SA Vortex |
Ahmed is currently the [[CEO]] of a company [[SA Vortex]] which specialises in high-speed [[hand dryers]] and body dryers. The products do not use electrical [[heating]] elements, and SA Vortex claims that they have "a lighter carbon footprint, and lower energy cost" compared to conventional dryers.<ref>[http://www.savortex.com/benefits.html SAVORTEX]</ref> Ahmed's development of SA Vortex was shown in an hour-long documentary, ''Hot Air'', broadcast on Sky. Ahmed initially financed the business himself <ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a61323/syed-ahmed.html Digital Spy]</ref>, but has since secured over £200,000 of external equity funding. |
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Ahmed was a director of the [[Information technology|IT]] [[recruitment consultancy]] firm ''IT People'' until May 2006 and a director of Magenta Partnerships Limited from June 2006 until February 2007. He is currently a director of Get Launched Limited and Restless Being Limited. |
Ahmed was a director of the [[Information technology|IT]] [[recruitment consultancy]] firm ''IT People'' until May 2006 and a director of Magenta Partnerships Limited from June 2006 until February 2007. He is currently a director of Get Launched Limited and Restless Being Limited. |
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==Television appearances== |
==Television appearances== |
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In July 2006, Ahmed appeared at the [[Thames]] [[Magistrates' Court]] and was convicted of driving while disqualified for [[Driving under the influence|drink-driving]]. Ahmed was banned from driving for three years and was given a two-month [[suspended sentence|suspended jail sentence]]. According to the ''Daily Mail'', Ahmed described the incident as "unfortunate" and a "one-off", and added "I don't drink at all now."<ref name="Yes we're Apprentice parents!"/> |
In July 2006, Ahmed appeared at the [[Thames]] [[Magistrates' Court]] and was convicted of driving while disqualified for [[Driving under the influence|drink-driving]]. Ahmed was banned from driving for three years and was given a two-month [[suspended sentence|suspended jail sentence]]. According to the ''Daily Mail'', Ahmed described the incident as "unfortunate" and a "one-off", and added "I don't drink at all now."<ref name="Yes we're Apprentice parents!"/> |
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On 14 August 2006, Ahmed was arrested in connection [[money laundering]] |
On 14 August 2006, Ahmed was arrested in connection with a [[money laundering]] probe <ref>Smith, Martin, Tapper, James, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400300/Apprentice-star-400-000-money-laundering-probe.html Apprentice star in £400,000 money laundering probe], ''Daily Mail'', 14 August, 2006.</ref>. He was questioned regarding a £400,000 property loan from former [[Portsmouth Football Club]] director, Terry Brady to Aftab Ahmed (no relation). <ref name=dailymail>Salked, Luke, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-400486/Police-quiz-wannabe-tycoon-small-favour-friend.html]</ref> Ahmed was released on bail until 20 October 2006.<ref>BBC News, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4791817.stm Reality star bailed in cash probe], 14 August 2006.</ref> Ahmed's solicitor Mr Ewing told The Mail on Sunday: "Syed has been knocked for six and he is devastated that he now has a stain on his business reputation which is wholly undeserved. In my opinion, this should never have been dealt with as a criminal matter. It is simply a straightforward dispute. I do feel very sorry for Syed."<ref>Smith, Martin, Tapper, James, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400300/Apprentice-star-400-000-money-laundering-probe.html Apprentice star in £400,000 money laundering probe], ''Daily Mail'', 14 August, 2006.</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 19:42, 20 April 2009
Syed Ahmed | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 September 1974 |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Candidate on The Apprentice |
| Website | Syed Ahmed - Official Site |
Syed Ahmed (Bengali: সায়ীদ আহমেদ (Sāyīd Āhamēd); born 17 September, 1974) is a British entrepreneur of Bangladesh origin. He is a director of the charity Restless Beings that he helped to set up. He is the founder and CEO of the hand and body drier company SA Vortex. He is best known for his 2006 appearance in the second UK series of the BBC reality television show The Apprentice, in which contestants compete for a £100,000-a-year job working for British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar.
Biography
Ahmed was born in Bangladesh,[1][2][3][4] in the Sylhet region,[5] but at a young age moved with his parents to the United Kingdom and was brought up in the Aldgate East area of the East End of London.[6][5]
He attended the Sir John Cass school from the age of 11 to 17 achieving 7 GCSEs. From 17 to 18 Ahmed studied for a BTEC First Certificate in Applied Science.
He was a corporal in the Shorditch 444 Air Training Corp, achieving 52 flights in a De Havilland Chipmunk.
During The Apprentice, Ahmed had a relationship with fellow contestant Michelle Dewberry. After the show finished, Dewberry became pregnant and the couple stated they were hoping to get married. After being admitted to hospital with stomach pains in August 2006, Dewberry was told that she had miscarried the baby.[7] A few weeks later, the relationship between the two broke down, and they subsequently stopped seeing each other.[8]
Businesses
Ahmed is currently the CEO of a company SA Vortex which specialises in high-speed hand dryers and body dryers. The products do not use electrical heating elements, and SA Vortex claims that they have "a lighter carbon footprint, and lower energy cost" compared to conventional dryers.[9] Ahmed's development of SA Vortex was shown in an hour-long documentary, Hot Air, broadcast on Sky. Ahmed initially financed the business himself [10], but has since secured over £200,000 of external equity funding.
Ahmed was a director of the IT recruitment consultancy firm IT People until May 2006 and a director of Magenta Partnerships Limited from June 2006 until February 2007. He is currently a director of Get Launched Limited and Restless Being Limited.
Television appearances
In 2006, Ahmed appeared as a candidate in series two of The Apprentice, a British reality television show hosted by Sir Alan Sugar. On the show Ahmed was a member of the "Invicta" team. For the week 10 task, Ahmed organised an above-deck fun day on a cruise ship. The teams were told they would not be judged solely on sales, but also on other criteria including marketing, originality and customer satisfaction. At the end of the task, Invicta had made £191.50 and the opposing team, Velocity, had made £507. Ahmed was subsequently fired due to his poor performance and many mistakes, including not properly recording the names and room numbers of passengers entering a raffle. One of his famous quotes on the show was: "£100,000 salary is not enough but it's a good place to start."[11] One of the contestants described Ahmed as, "If there was a Bollywood version of The Office, he would be David Brent."[12]
Ahmed appeared on Sky One's show, Cirque de Celebrité, and was voted off in the second week after making mistakes walking the wire. He also created Hot Air, a documentary for Sky, which followed his launch of SA Vortex's body dryer products.
Controversies
In July 2006, Ahmed appeared at the Thames Magistrates' Court and was convicted of driving while disqualified for drink-driving. Ahmed was banned from driving for three years and was given a two-month suspended jail sentence. According to the Daily Mail, Ahmed described the incident as "unfortunate" and a "one-off", and added "I don't drink at all now."[13]
On 14 August 2006, Ahmed was arrested in connection with a money laundering probe [14]. He was questioned regarding a £400,000 property loan from former Portsmouth Football Club director, Terry Brady to Aftab Ahmed (no relation). [2] Ahmed was released on bail until 20 October 2006.[15] Ahmed's solicitor Mr Ewing told The Mail on Sunday: "Syed has been knocked for six and he is devastated that he now has a stain on his business reputation which is wholly undeserved. In my opinion, this should never have been dealt with as a criminal matter. It is simply a straightforward dispute. I do feel very sorry for Syed."[16]
Notes
- ^ Syed Ahmed Bios.
- ^ a b Salked, Luke, [1]
- ^ Sugar begins hunt for new Apprentice Manchester Evening News.
- ^ Media troubling Apprentice stars BBC News.
- ^ a b New Age Xtra October 10-16, 2008.
- ^ Apprentice star Syed arrested This Is Money UK. Martin Smith and James Tapper, Mail on Sunday. 14 August 2006, 4:05pm.
- ^ "Apprentice winner loses her baby". BBC News. 2006-08-23. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ EntertainmentWise
- ^ SAVORTEX
- ^ Digital Spy
- ^ Gerald Haigh (2008). Inspirational, and Cautionary Tales for Would-be School Leaders: Tales for Would-be School Leaders. Routledge. pp. 138.
- ^ Where Are They Now? - The Apprentice | Sir Alan Sugar | BBC MSN UK (Lorna Cooper). Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Yes we're Apprentice parents!was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Smith, Martin, Tapper, James, Apprentice star in £400,000 money laundering probe, Daily Mail, 14 August, 2006.
- ^ BBC News, Reality star bailed in cash probe, 14 August 2006.
- ^ Smith, Martin, Tapper, James, Apprentice star in £400,000 money laundering probe, Daily Mail, 14 August, 2006.
External links
- 1975 births
- Living people
- People from London
- British people of Bangladeshi descent
- British people of Bengali descent
- The Apprentice (UK) candidates
- British television people
- British Muslims
- Bangladeshi immigrants to the United Kingdom
- People convicted of alcohol-related driving offenses
- People from Sylhet
- Businesspeople