#4 Michael Spencer: Origin Story of One of The City's Most Successful Entrepreneurs

I was delighted to welcome Michael Spencer to Stratospheric Leaders. Michael is one of the most renowned entrepreneurs and dealmakers of our time.

As the Founder and CEO of NEX Group (formerly ICAP), he built a global powerhouse—one that he later sold to CME Group for £3.8 billion in 2018.

His story is, in many ways, a modern history of the financial markets: how The City came to dominate global finance in the 1980's and 1990's.

In 1986, with just £50,000 of his own capital and three other brokers by his side, Michael launched Intercapital (a voice broking firm) - entering a fiercely competitive and crowded market with 23 well-established firms already operating in this space.

What followed was a masterclass in differentiating yourself from your competitors, looking forwards not backwards, never being complacent and sheer perseverance.

Over two decades, ICAP delivered a staggering 6,000% shareholder return.

In 2006 ICAP secured its place in the FTSE 100—a rare feat for a founder-led company.

So, what makes Michael different?

He’s a pioneer, always thinking ahead, willing to take calculated risks—even if that meansdisrupting his own business. He believes that to achieve more in the future, you must be ready to challenge and reinvent what you've built in the past.

Beyond business, Michael is a dedicated philanthropist, launching ICAP Charity Day, raising over $150 million pounds and supporting more than 2,000 charities.

Michael Spencer is a visionary -  He is somebody who has redefined markets, built extraordinary value, and proven time and again that fortune does truly favour the brave.If you want to learn more practical lessons and real-world leadership insights from remarkable founder CEOs, you can ⁠order Georgie's book Stratospheric CEOs out now.