Gerry Ford (businessman)

Gerry Ford (born 4 November 1957) is a London-based American businessman and the Chief Executive of Caffè Nero, the UK's third-largest coffee chain.

Early life

He is the son of an American university Professor of Education. He accompanied his father on sabbaticals to European countries. He grew up in Silicon Valley.

He first attended Stanford University, where he studied Politics and International Relations. He gained an MBA in 1984 from INSEAD at Fontainebleau, south of Paris, as well as a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He did a PhD in US-European relations at the University of Oxford.

Career

His first job was as a financial analyst for Hewlett-Packard. He cites Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard as role models.

He came to work in the UK for Apax Partners, a private equity company, where he stayed for three years.

He co-founded Paladin Partners, an equity company, in 1991.

Caffè Nero in Maida Vale

Caffè Nero

Caffè Nero had been established as an Italian coffee concept in South Kensington in 1990 by Ian Semp; the company with 5 central London branches was sold to Paladin in 1997

Paladin Partners established Caffè Nero in 1997 in South Kensington, with five branches. At the time most people drank coffee from instant coffee bought in the supermarket. Now the company has around 700 establishments in the UK. The company format was refined over the first eighteen months, and the eighth version of the format is what is now found today.

In March 2001 the company joined the London Stock Exchange. He took the company off the stock exchange in 2007. The company's headquarters are in Covent Garden.

Personal life

He lives in Kensington. He is married to Amanda and has two sons, Taylor and Tate.

External links

• Company history