Simon Whitehead

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Chief Executive Officer at Portland

London, England, United Kingdom

Overview

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.

Personality Overview

Big Picture Person

Believer

Imaginative

They are people oriented, friendly and like creating new connections.  They are not always early adopters but can be pursuaded by leveraging strong relationships. They are naturally enthusiastic, so take their promise with a pinch of salt.

Topics They Care 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.
Critical Minerals
He has recently been engaged with the topic, attending the Future Minerals Forum and highlighting the geopolitical importance of critical and essential materials for the future.

Media Appearances

Simon has no verified media appearances

Work History

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

Education

1998 - 1999
MBA from Cranfield School of Management
1985 - 1988
MA Hons from University of Cambridge

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 23 Location : London, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Leadership Designation : Chief Executive Officer at Portland
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Insights For Selling To Simon

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Talk anecdotally about the customer experience that your product offers
  • Invite them for a lunch or a drink/coffee
  • Share some stories about how you you have helped people in similar positions succeed

DONT's

  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail
  • Don’t assume a yes just because they have not said no
  • Don’t push them to make a decision too fast, let them get comfortable first

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Simon is

  • Relationship and trust can be vital with them, sometimes more than anything else.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Simon

  • They are unlikely to say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Simon move?

  • They are not the fastest decision makers, their friendly approach can give false positive signals.
  • Can Simon take some risk or not?

  • They can accept limited risks, ones that they think will not impact them personally.

You And Simon

Personality Compatibility


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