Born in Enfield, Middlesex, Ray Kelvin CBE is the CEO and founder of Ted Baker. Coming from a long line of fashion retailers, it could be said that his choice of career was preordained. His first exposure to the fashion trade coming very early in life, working in his Uncle’s menswear shop from the age of eleven, right through the mod-fuelled 60’s – his favourite period of fashion.

Surprisingly for a businessman he wasn’t a natural at O-Level Maths. However once a pound sign was placed in front of the numbers he found everything became a lot clearer. It was actually the combination of this ability to add-up and his passion for design – and just as importantly, the talent to marry that love to consumers’ tastes – that set him apart from his peers.

It was in 1988 when he had the idea for Ted Baker, opening his first store in Glasgow. Starting out as a shirt specialist, his plan was to deliver outstanding attention-to-detail both in terms of his clothes and customer service. From the beginnings of the business in his front room, he has carefully managed the growth and development of the Ted Baker brand – ensuring that the culture of the business has been retained and nurtured during the rapid growth of the subsequent years.

In 2011 New Year Honours, Ray was proud to be awarded a CBE for services to the fashion industry.

In 1997, Ted Baker floated on the London Stock Exchange at a market capitalization of £57-million, when the business had a turnover of £14-million. Fourteen years on and the business is a global lifestyle brand with 1900 employees in 17 countries, and a turnover of some £187million (for the 52 weeks ended 29 January 2011).

From sunglasses, wallpaper and watches to tents, shoes and perfumery, Ray and his team have brought a bit of Ted to every aspect of life, culminating in a total retail value of product sales in excess of £400million. An impressive achievement in anyone’s book that he rather humbly puts down to his very clear, unswerving, focus on quality, attention-to-detail and quirky sense of humor.