Simon Mansell
Age: 27
Company: TBG
When your own line manager asks to be demoted rather than manage you, it’s pretty obvious you should be your own boss. Mansell realised this and, despite establishing his digital marketing firm TBG during the dot com crash in 2001, has achieved 40% year-on-year growth, resulting in a £10m turnover. Crediting the capture of clients, such as American Express, to excellent in-house training, Mansell has targeted companies needing clever direct marketing to great effect. US expansion is planned over the next year.