Mark Dixon (businessman)
Mark Dixon | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1959 Essex, England |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Known for | Founder of Regus (now International Workplace Group) |
Mark Leslie James Dixon (born 2 November 1959) is an English entrepreneur residing in Monaco, widely recognized as the founder of the serviced office company Regus, which was rebranded as International Workplace Group (IWG plc) in 2016.
Early life
Born on 2 November 1959 in Essex, England, Dixon is the son of a car mechanic. He attended Rainsford High School and demonstrated early entrepreneurial spirit by selling peat to nearby housing developments.
Career
At the age of 16, Dixon left school and started a sandwich delivery service called Dial-a-Snack, which ultimately did not succeed. He then traveled abroad, taking on diverse roles such as barman, miner, farm laborer, and encyclopedia salesman.
Returning to Essex, he invested £600 in a burger van located on London's North Circular road and eventually grew this venture to operate seven vans. To ensure consistent supply chains, he established The Bread Roll Company, which he later sold in 1988 for £800,000.
After moving to Brussels, Dixon initiated an apartment rental enterprise. His observation of business meetings held in cafés inspired him to launch Regus in 1989, providing flexible office spaces. By mid-2001, Regus had a valuation of £2 billion, with Dixon holding a 60% share that made him a billionaire. However, following the dot-com bubble burst, the value of his holdings fell below £80 million.
In 2002, Dixon sold 58% of Regus UK to the private equity firm Alchemy Partners, repurchasing this stake three years later. He successfully rebuilt and expanded Regus on a global scale; today it operates across more than 100 countries. Dixon continues to serve as CEO of IWG plc.
In addition to his business ventures, Dixon owns the Chateau de Berne vineyard located in Provence, which includes a five-star hotel and dining establishment. Producing approximately five million bottles annually, it ranks as the second-largest wine producer in Provence. In 2017, he acquired the 150-acre Kingscote Estate in West Sussex to enhance wine production within the UK.
The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his wealth at £1.437 billion in 2021.
Personal life
Dixon married journalist Trudy Groves in 1988; they divorced in 2005 with a settlement amounting to £28.7 million.
He currently lives in Monaco primarily for tax considerations but chooses to pay taxes voluntarily within the United Kingdom.