Early Life
Simon Justin Nixon was born on August 7, 1967, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. His childhood involved frequent moves due to his father's Royal Air Force assignments. Educated at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Nixon later enrolled at the University of Nottingham to study accountancy. However, he found the subject uninspiring and dropped out.
Rise to Success
In 1993, Nixon co-founded Mortgage 2000 with Duncan Cameron, offering offline mortgage information. Recognizing the internet's potential, they launched moneysupermarket.com in 1999, expanding services to include credit cards and personal loans. Moneysupermarket.com became a leading price comparison website in the UK, with Nixon playing a crucial role in its success. He sold his remaining 6.9% stake in Moneysupermarket in 2016 for £124 million, though he remains a significant shareholder.
Key Business Strategies
Nixon's success is attributed to identifying market gaps and leveraging technological advancements. His key strategies include:
- First-Mover Advantage: Capitalizing on the early internet boom to establish Moneysupermarket.com.
- Strategic Partnerships: Building strong relationships to offer a wide range of financial product comparisons.
- Diversification: Expanding services beyond mortgages to credit cards and personal loans, increasing revenue streams.
- Investment Acumen: Investing in startups, including Airbnb, Robinhood, and Wise (TransferWise), which demonstrates his foresight.
Philanthropy
While specific details on his philanthropy are limited in the search results, it is known that Nixon is involved in philanthropic activities, supporting causes related to education and financial literacy. He has donated to organizations like the Prince's Trust.