The Real Deal

Five feet, seven inches of charisma, loaded with energy, street smarts and with a small hat size that belies his intellect which would fill two normal thinking heads. Simon Murray is a Citizen of The World whose travels and friends do indeed span the world.

Simon Foreign Legion 1960

Instead of Oxford or Cambridge or some such school of higher learning Simon, at age 18, chose to hone his education in the French Foreign Legion, a group that attracted bullies, misfits and criminals none of which Simon Murray was or is.

He was just bored and looking for excitement. He got a ton of that. He was in a parachute regiment that was fighting rebels in Algeria who wanted to be shut of France.

After the Foreign Legion, Simon settled in Hong Kong with £28, a wife, a huge store of energy and the balls of a brass monkey plus the ability to seduce Jesus Christ down off the cross.

Beau Brummell, Simon is not. For one of the most imaginative people on the planet his clothes are really boring. Always wearing a black suit, white shirt and mundane tie. Simon thinks that people who wear brown suits at night are classless. And yet, in spite of his height, boring clothes and average looks women are attracted to him like bees to honey.

With energy coming out of his ears he ran, at age 60, a 240 km race across the Moroccan desert. ”He is the oldest man to have walked, unsupported to the South Pole, a 750 mile journey that he completed in 58 days, in 2004". Simon is constantly testing his physical endurance like recently climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. He is absolutely maniacal about staying in motion. As a matter of fact, Simon lives by the credo that "moderation is fatal" (and boring).

He flies a helicopter as a hobby. Just getting in a helicopter makes me edgy, much less flying in one.

Awarded CBE (Commander of British Empire) for his dedicated involvement in the momentous political change of Hong Kong and recognition of his time, efforts plus street smart contributions to the community of Hong Kong (spanning many years).

France in gratitude for his service as a Legionnaire, awarded him Order of Merit of the French Republic and Simon has recently received the highest honor of France, "Chevalier de La Legion de Honneur". Not bad for 5 foot seven shortie.

Simon's eye popping business accomplishments border on overwhelming. (Currently, among other titles and positions, Simon is currently Non Executive Chairman of Glencore a massive commodity trading house and mining concern).

Simon's unbelievably successful business CV includes a wide range of interests from managing $500 million in private equity money to managing expansion of container terminals. He has been active in public and private mobile phone and telecom companies. Because of his business creativity he has been and is on boards of premier international companies and has a roll-o-dex that is mind boggling.

Simon is no false idol. Simon is the real deal. How I met Simon and became associated with him is for another time.

“My late father would have ENJOYED reading this and my late mother would have BELIEVED it................” ~ Simon