Stef Stefanou

Background

Stef Stefanou was born in Egypt in 1941, the son of a shopkeeper who had emigrated from Cyprus, aged 14.

Career

The whole family left Egypt for the United Kingdom in 1959, following the political turmoil after the Suez crisis, which left his father unemployed. He started his career with Peter Lind, Fairweather and Holst (now known as Vinci Société Anonyme), before joining John Doyle Group in 1972. Stefanou joined John Doyle Group six years after it was founded in 1966, and within three years was its managing director

Over time became its owner and chairman.

On 21 September 2007, after eight years of growth, Accord was acquired by Enterprise plc for £180 million. On 12 June 2012, the administrators were called in.

John Doyle Group had a £80 million turnover and employed 260 people.

Achievements

• In 2004, he was made a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and in 2007, the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and an honorary doctorate by the University of Westminster.