Syed Ahmed

Infobox Person


image_size = 180px
name = Syed Ahmed
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birth_date = 1975
birth_place = Sylhet, Bangladesh
residence = London, United Kingdom
ethnicity = Bangladeshi
religion = Muslim
occupation = Entrepreneur
known_for = Candidate of The Apprentice
salary =
networth =
spouse =
children =
website = [http://www.syed-ahmed.com/flash/index.html Syed Ahmed - Official Site]
footnotes =

Syed Ahmed (born 1975, Sylhet, Bangladesh) is a British entrepreneur and businessman.

Ahmed is a former director of the IT recruitment consultancy firm, IT People. Ahmed is now a CEO of the hand and body drier company SA Vortex. His first television appearance was on the BBC reality television show, "The Apprentice".

Biography

Ahmed was born in 1975 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. When he was a baby, his family moved to the United Kingdom and he grew up in the Bethnal Green/Stepney Green area of the East End of London.

During "The Apprentice", Ahmed had a romantic relationship with fellow contestant Michelle Dewberry. After the show finished, Michelle became pregnant to Ahmed and the couple stated they were hoping to get married. Ahmed family are devout Muslims and he and his parents were shocked by the pregnancy and said they would prefer it if Michelle converted to Islam, but only if she wants to. [Clarke, Natalie, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-400186/Yes-Apprentice-parents.html Yes we're Apprentice parents!] "Daily Mail", 11 August, 2006.]

It was reported that a rift had developed between Dewberry and her Sir Alan Sugar. [cite web | date = 2006-08-08 | url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds35697.html | title = 'Apprentice' winner angers Sir Alan Sugar | publisher = Digital Spy | accessdate = 2006-08-24 | author = Daniel Kilkelly] After being admitted to hospital with stomach pains in August 2006, Dewberry was told that she had miscarried the baby. [cite news | date = 2006-08-23 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5279946.stm | title = Apprentice winner loses her baby | publisher = BBC News | accessdate = 2006-08-24] A few weeks later, the relationship between Dewberry and Ahmed broke down, and they subsequently stopped seeing each other. [ [http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/22445/the-apprentices-michelle-dewberry-and EntertainmentWise] ]

In July 2006, Ahmed appeared at the Thames Magistrates' Court and was convicted of driving while his driver's license was already disqualified for drink-driving. Ahmed was banned from driving for three years and was given a two-month suspended jail sentence. [Clarke, Natalie, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-400186/Yes-Apprentice-parents.html Yes we're Apprentice parents!] "Daily Mail", 11 August, 2006.]

On 14 August 2006, Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a money laundering operation. He was questioned regarding a £400,000 property loan from former Portsmouth Football Club director, Terry Brady. Brady had complained that Syed Ahmed mislead him resulting in him loaning Sayed's business partner, Aftab Ahmed (no relation), £400,000. Aftab Ahmed allegedly used the money to buy a home in New Providence Wharf in London Docklands. [Salked, Luke, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-400486/Police-quiz-wannabe-tycoon-small-favour-friend.html Police quiz wannabe tycoon over 'small favour for a friend'] , "Daily Mail", 14 August, 2006.] Ahmed was released on bail until October 20 2006. [BBC News, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4791817.stm Reality star bailed in cash probe] , 14 August 2006.]

Businesses

Ahmed is currently a CEO of the company SA Vortex which specialises in high speed hand dryers and body dryers. The products do not use electric functions such as fans or any other heating elements and SA Vortex claims they are producing these products in an energy efficient way, reducing carbon emissions and energy costs. [ [http://www.savortex.com/benefits.html SAVORTEX] ] Ahmed's development of his company, SA Vortex was shown on Sky's hour-long documentary, "Hot Air". Ahmed was given £20,000 to spend to build this business in three months. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a61323/syed-ahmed.html Digital Spy] ]

Ahmed previously worked for the IT recruitment consultancy firm "IT People". [Smith, Martin, Tapper, James, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400300/Apprentice-star-400-000-money-laundering-probe.html Apprentice star in £400,000 money laundering probe] , "Daily Mail", 14 August, 2006.]

Television appearances

Ahmed appeared as a candidate of series two of "The Apprentice", a British reality television show hosted by Sir Alan Sugar. On the show Ahmed was a member of the "Invicta" team. For the week 10 task, Ahmed organised an above-deck fun day on a cruise ship. The teams were told they would not be judged solely on sales, but also on other criteria including marketing, originality and customer satisfaction. At the end of the task, Invicta had made £191.50 and Velocity made £507. Ahmed was subsequently fired due to his poor performance making many mistakes including not properly recording the names and room numbers of passengers entering a raffle.

Ahmed appeared on Sky One's show, "Cirque de Celebrité" and was voted off in the second week after making mistakes walking of the wire. He also created "Hot Air", his own reality television show for Sky which followed his launch of SA Vortex's body dryer products.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/newsarticle/cid/5.html BBC - Apprentice - News Article]