Biography

Gareth is the first Director General of APA and was instrumental in its establishment and initial development.

He started his working life as a RAF Pilot and left after 10-years service to start a series of enterprising small businesses operating in the UK, USA and the Middle East. He has travelled extensively and is considered an expert in the field of innovation and business start-up. He has served as a Non-Executive Chairman and Director to a host of high-growth, technology-based businesses and has been a member of a number of governmental committees and steering groups. He was a member of the Small Business Council, the panel of 23 advisors to the DTI and Cabinet on all matters relating to small business and a Director of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

From 1995-2003 he was the Managing Director of a highly successful European Union Business Innovation Centre and from 2003 until he formed APA, he was the Managing Director of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), the trade association for the £26 billion UK staffing agencies industry.

Gareth holds an Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University Business School for his work in entrepreneurship and business innovation and also the IOD’s prestigious Diploma in Company Direction.

He credits a series of highly motivated and talented PAs with whom he has worked for his success and recognises the importance of outstanding support in business. He says “If APA had existed for my PAs then they would certainly have been members. They are now!”  

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