Simon Whitehead in

Simon Whitehead

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Chief Executive Officer at Portland
📍 London, England, United Kingdom

Simon Whitehead is the CEO of Portland, a global advisory firm. With over 30 years of experience spanning communications, international finance, and politics, he has a notable background in leading the energy and industrials sectors. He holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and an MA from the University of Cambridge.

Describing himself as an "internationalist, " Simon is deeply interested in the intersection of business, politics, and international relations. He closely follows geopolitical developments, including US-China tensions and shifts in global alliances, and analyzes their impact on the business landscape.

He was recently inducted as a Fellow at the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), a significant honor recognizing his contributions to the industry.

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Experience
23 Years
Current Role
Chief Executive Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
London, England, United Kingdom
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics Simon cares about

Geopolitical Strategy
He frequently comments on global political dynamics, such as US-China tensions and the state of the Western Alliance, reflecting his interest in international relations and policy.
Energy Transition
Leveraging his extensive background as the former Global Chair of Energy & Industrials at Burson and Hill & Knowlton, he has a deep-seated interest in decarbonization and renewables.
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Career

Work history

3-2025
Chief Executive Officer
Portland
6-2024 - 3-2025
CEO UK and Global Chair of Energy & Industrials
Burson
11-2018 - 6-2024
CEO, UK
Hill & Knowlton
6-2017 - 6-2024
Global Lead Energy & Industrials Practice
Hill & Knowlton
9-2011 - 11-2018
UK Managing Director, Energy & Industrials Practice
Hill & Knowlton
In the press

Media appearances

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Education
1998 - 1999
MBA
Cranfield School of Management
1985 - 1988
MA Hons
University of Cambridge
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and calculativeness scores with guidance on how this person prefers to communicate and decide.

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