Dean Forbes

Introduction

Dean Forbes is a British technology executive and entrepreneur recognized as one of the most influential business leaders in the United Kingdom. Born on October 18, 1978, in Lewisham, London, Forbes has built a remarkable career in enterprise software, rising from a sales representative to CEO of Forterro, a leading European ERP software company with a valuation between 1.5 and 2 billion euros. In 2025, Forbes was named number one on the Powerlist, the annual ranking of the most influential Black British people, cementing his status as a pioneering leader in European technology.

Forbes’s journey from South London to leading one of Europe’s most significant enterprise software companies represents a story of determination, strategic vision, and exceptional leadership. His early years were shaped by the vibrant but challenging environment of Lewisham, where he developed the resilience and competitive drive that would characterize his business career. Before entering the technology sector, Forbes pursued a career in professional football, playing in the youth academy at Crystal Palace. When injury ended his athletic ambitions, he channeled his competitive energy into business, beginning at the entry level in software sales.

Forbes’s ascent through the technology industry was marked by consistently exceeding expectations and taking on increasing responsibilities. He demonstrated rare ability to drive growth, build high-performing teams, and transform business performance. His leadership at various software companies established his reputation as one of Europe’s most capable technology executives, culminating in his appointment as CEO of Forterro in 2021.

Under Forbes’s leadership, Forterro has undergone significant transformation and growth. He led the company through a 1 billion euro buyout by Partners Group in 2022, one of the largest private equity transactions in European software. The company has continued to expand through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, solidifying its position as a leader in ERP software for mid-market industrial companies across Europe.

With an estimated net worth between 40 and 50 million pounds, Forbes represents a new generation of European technology leadership. His success has made him a prominent figure in discussions about diversity in technology and business leadership. Through public speaking, mentorship, and advocacy, he works to create pathways for others from underrepresented backgrounds to achieve similar success.

Quick Facts

Key Achievements

Forterro Leadership

• Appointed CEO of Forterro in 2021
• Led 1 billion euro buyout by Partners Group in 2022
• Grew Forterro valuation to 1.5-2 billion euros (2024)
• Overseeing significant expansion across European markets
• Built and led executive team transforming company performance

Industry Recognition

• Named #1 on Powerlist 2025 (most influential Black British person)
• Recognized as one of Europe’s leading technology executives
• Featured in major business publications for leadership excellence
• Regular speaker at technology and business conferences
• Influential voice on diversity in technology leadership

Business Career

• Rose from sales representative to CEO of major enterprise software company
• Demonstrated consistent track record of revenue growth and business transformation
• Successfully led multiple companies through private equity transactions
• Built high-performing teams across multiple organizations
• Developed expertise in European mid-market enterprise software

Advocacy and Impact

• Active mentorship of emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds
• Public advocacy for diversity in technology and business leadership
• Inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and executives across UK and Europe
• Demonstrates pathways to success for talent from non-traditional backgrounds

Early Life and Education

Childhood in Lewisham

Dean Forbes was born on October 18, 1978, in Lewisham, South London. Growing up in this vibrant but economically challenged area of London shaped Forbes’s character and ambitions from an early age. Lewisham in the late 1970s and 1980s was a diverse, working-class community that presented both opportunities and obstacles for young people.

Forbes’s upbringing in South London exposed him to the realities of economic inequality while also instilling the resilience and determination that would serve him throughout his career. The community’s diversity provided exposure to different cultures and perspectives, while its challenges required the development of grit and adaptability.

Football Aspirations

Crystal Palace Youth Academy

From an early age, Forbes demonstrated exceptional athletic talent, particularly in football. His abilities attracted attention from professional clubs, and he was recruited to the youth academy at Crystal Palace Football Club. This represented a significant achievement and a potential pathway to professional sports success.

The Crystal Palace academy provided professional coaching, structured development, and exposure to the demands of elite athletic competition. Forbes progressed through the youth system, developing his skills and demonstrating the dedication required for professional sports.

Athletic Career End

Forbes’s football aspirations were cut short by injury. The specific nature of the injury has not been publicly detailed, but it was sufficient to end his prospects for a professional football career. This setback, occurring during the formative years when many athletes are developing toward professional careers, required significant adjustment.

The end of his athletic career, while devastating at the time, ultimately redirected Forbes toward business. The competitive drive, discipline, and team orientation developed through football would transfer effectively to his subsequent business career. The experience of dealing with career-ending disappointment also built resilience that served him in facing subsequent business challenges.

Transition to Business

Early Career Challenges

Following the end of his football career, Forbes faced the challenge of redirecting his ambitions and building a new career path. Without university education or family connections in business, he began at entry-level positions and worked his way upward through performance and dedication.

His transition from athletics to business was not immediate or easy. Forbes took positions that provided income while he learned about business and developed capabilities. This period required patience and persistence as he built foundations for future advancement.

Entry into Technology Sales

Forbes’s entry into the technology industry came through software sales positions. Starting as a sales representative, he demonstrated natural abilities for understanding customer needs, communicating value, and closing business. These capabilities, combined with intense work ethic, enabled rapid advancement.

Sales provided an attractive entry point because performance was objectively measurable and advancement was possible regardless of formal credentials. Forbes’s results spoke louder than his educational background, creating opportunities that might have been closed in more credential-dependent career paths.

Self-Education and Professional Development

Business Learning

Without formal business education, Forbes pursued self-directed learning throughout his early career. He studied business principles, technology markets, and sales methodologies through reading, observation, and practical application.

This self-education was intensive and continuous. Forbes approached his professional development with the same discipline he had applied to athletic training, systematically building knowledge and skills. His learning focused on practical capabilities that could be immediately applied to improve performance.

Technology Industry Knowledge

As Forbes advanced in the software industry, he developed deep expertise in enterprise technology, particularly in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. This expertise included understanding of:

Software Functionality: Comprehensive knowledge of ERP capabilities including finance, manufacturing, supply chain, and human resources modules.

Market Dynamics: Understanding of how enterprise software markets function, including purchasing processes, competitive dynamics, and vendor relationships.

Customer Needs: Deep insight into the business challenges that drive enterprise software purchases and how technology solutions address these challenges.

Industry Trends: Awareness of technology trends including cloud computing, digital transformation, and evolving customer expectations.

Mentorship and Learning

Throughout his career, Forbes sought mentorship from experienced business leaders who could guide his development. These relationships provided:

Strategic Guidance: Advice on career decisions and strategic choices that shaped his professional trajectory.

Capability Development: Coaching on leadership skills, management approaches, and business judgment.

Network Access: Introductions to relationships and opportunities that accelerated his career advancement.

Perspective: Context and perspective on challenges that helped him navigate difficult situations.

Character Development

Competitive Drive

The competitive drive developed through athletics remained central to Forbes’s character in business. He approached business challenges with the same intensity and determination that characterized his football training. This competitiveness drove him to exceed targets, outperform peers, and continuously raise his own standards.

However, Forbes learned to channel this competitiveness constructively in business contexts. Rather than zero-sum competition with colleagues, he focused on competitive excellence in serving customers and building businesses. The drive to win translated into drive to succeed in creating value.

Resilience and Adaptability

The experience of losing his football career developed resilience that served Forbes throughout his business career. He learned to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to changing circumstances, and maintain optimism in difficult situations.

This resilience enabled him to navigate the inevitable challenges of business leadership including economic downturns, competitive pressures, and organizational difficulties. The ability to maintain performance under pressure distinguished Forbes from peers who might falter in difficult circumstances.

Team Orientation

Football’s emphasis on teamwork translated into Forbes’s business leadership. While individually competitive, he recognized that business success required team effort and collaboration. His leadership has consistently emphasized team building and collective achievement over individual recognition.

This team orientation is evident in his track record of building high-performing organizations. Forbes invests in developing team members, creating collaborative cultures, and celebrating collective success. The understanding that strong teams outperform individuals has guided his management approach.

Community and Identity

British Caribbean Heritage

Forbes’s identity as a British man of Caribbean heritage has influenced his perspective and career. His background provides connection to diverse communities and understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in business.

This identity has become increasingly significant as Forbes has achieved prominence. His success demonstrates what is possible for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, providing representation that was scarce when he began his career. Forbes has embraced this representative role, using his platform to advocate for greater diversity in business leadership.

London Roots

Forbes’s London upbringing remains central to his identity. Despite achieving success with international scope, he maintains connection to London and its communities. His career demonstrates that world-class business leadership can emerge from and remain connected to urban communities often overlooked by business elites.

This connection to London influences his business perspective, understanding of European markets, and commitment to creating opportunities for others from similar backgrounds.

Personal Life

Forbes maintains a relatively private personal life despite his public professional profile. He has balanced intense professional demands with family responsibilities, demonstrating that significant business leadership is compatible with personal life commitments.

His personal experience informs his leadership approach to work-life balance within his organizations. While expecting excellence and dedication, Forbes recognizes the importance of sustainable performance and personal well-being.

Foundation for Leadership

Sales Foundation

Forbes’s foundation in sales provided crucial preparation for business leadership:

Customer Focus: Sales experience developed deep customer orientation that guides strategic decisions.

Results Orientation: Sales metrics instilled focus on measurable results and accountability.

Communication Skills: Sales experience honed communication capabilities essential for leadership.

Resilience: Sales rejection built resilience that serves leaders facing business setbacks.

Commercial Acumen: Sales experience developed understanding of business economics and value creation.

Progressive Responsibility

Forbes’s career advancement through progressively responsible roles built leadership capabilities systematically:

Each role developed new skills while building on previous experience. This progressive development created comprehensive leadership capabilities covering sales, marketing, operations, strategy, and organizational management.

The absence of rapid promotion without experience gaps meant Forbes developed deep capabilities in each functional area before advancing. This thorough preparation distinguished him from leaders who advanced through narrower experience bases.

Career at Forterro

Appointment as CEO (2021)

Selection Process

Dean Forbes was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Forterro in 2021, following a distinguished career in enterprise software. His selection reflected recognition of his track record driving growth and transformation in technology companies, as well as his deep expertise in European ERP markets.

The appointment brought Forbes to lead a company with significant scale and potential but facing the challenges typical of mid-market software companies including integration of acquired businesses, technology modernization, and market expansion. Forterro’s owners sought a leader capable of accelerating growth and maximizing strategic value.

Initial Assessment and Strategy

Upon joining Forterro, Forbes conducted comprehensive assessment of the company’s operations, technology, market position, and organizational capabilities. This assessment identified both strengths to leverage and areas requiring transformation.

Strengths: Forterro had established market presence, diverse product portfolio, and strong customer relationships across European markets. The company served important industrial customers with mission-critical ERP systems.

Challenges: Integration of acquired companies remained incomplete, creating operational complexity. Technology platforms required modernization to compete effectively. Go-to-market capabilities varied across geographies and product lines.

Opportunities: The European mid-market ERP sector offered growth potential through digital transformation trends. Market consolidation created acquisition opportunities. Cloud migration presented new revenue models.

Strategic Priorities

Forbes established strategic priorities focused on growth acceleration and value creation:

Operational Excellence: Improving operational efficiency and integration across the company’s diverse components. This included streamlining processes, rationalizing systems, and building scalable operations.

Technology Modernization: Modernizing product portfolios to address evolving customer needs including cloud deployment, mobile access, and advanced analytics. This modernization was essential for competitive positioning.

Market Expansion: Expanding market presence through both organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. Geographic expansion and vertical market focus created growth vectors.

Talent Development: Building organizational capabilities through talent acquisition, development, and retention. Forbes recognized that execution depended on having the right people in key roles.

Partners Group Buyout (2022)

Transaction Overview

In 2022, Forbes led Forterro through a 1 billion euro buyout by Partners Group, a global private equity firm. This transaction represented one of the largest private equity deals in European software and provided Forterro with resources for accelerated growth.

The transaction structure provided Partners Group with majority ownership while positioning Forterro for continued expansion. Forbes’s leadership in navigating this complex transaction demonstrated his capabilities in managing major corporate events.

Transaction Rationale

The buyout served multiple strategic objectives:

Capital for Growth: Partners Group’s investment provided capital for acquisitions, technology investment, and geographic expansion. This capital enabled more aggressive growth strategies than previous ownership structures allowed.

Valuation Realization: The transaction realized significant value for previous owners while positioning the company for continued value creation under new ownership.

Strategic Alignment: Partners Group’s investment thesis aligned with Forbes’s strategic vision for Forterro, creating partnership for value creation.

Management Incentive: The transaction structure aligned management incentives with value creation, ensuring continued commitment from Forbes and his leadership team.

Leadership During Transition

Managing a major ownership transition while maintaining business performance requires exceptional leadership. Forbes successfully navigated this challenge:

Stakeholder Management: Managing relationships with previous owners, new investors, employees, customers, and partners through the transition period.

Continuity Assurance: Ensuring business continuity during the transaction process, maintaining customer service and employee engagement.

Strategic Momentum: Using the transaction as catalyst for strategic initiatives rather than allowing transaction distraction to slow execution.

Team Alignment: Aligning leadership team around new ownership expectations and growth objectives.

Growth and Expansion (2022-2024)

Valuation Growth

Under Forbes’s leadership, Forterro’s valuation grew from the 1 billion euro transaction price to an estimated 1.5-2 billion euros by 2024. This appreciation reflected strong operational performance, successful integration, and market recognition of the company’s strategic position.

The valuation growth validated Forbes’s leadership and strategic approach. It demonstrated his ability to create substantial shareholder value while building sustainable business capabilities.

Organic Growth Initiatives

Forbes drove organic growth through multiple initiatives:

Sales Excellence: Implementing sales methodologies and capabilities that improved win rates and deal sizes. Investing in sales talent and enablement created growth momentum.

Customer Success: Focusing on customer success to drive retention and expansion revenue. Satisfied customers provided both recurring revenue and reference credibility.

Product Innovation: Accelerating product development to address emerging customer needs. Cloud capabilities, analytics, and mobile access became focal points for innovation.

Geographic Expansion: Expanding presence in underpenetrated European markets. Localization and market-specific strategies drove growth in new territories.

Acquisition Strategy

Forterro pursued strategic acquisitions to expand capabilities and market presence:

Complementary Products: Acquiring companies with products that complemented Forterro’s existing portfolio, enabling broader solution offerings to customers.

Geographic Expansion: Acquisitions in new geographies provided immediate local presence and customer relationships.

Talent Acquisition: Acquisitions brought talented teams and capabilities that strengthened Forterro’s overall organization.

Market Consolidation: Participating in market consolidation that strengthened Forterro’s competitive position.

Forbes’s experience with acquisitions from previous roles informed Forterro’s approach to integration and value realization. The company developed capabilities for identifying, executing, and integrating acquisitions effectively.

Technology Transformation

Forbes led significant technology transformation at Forterro:

Cloud Migration: Accelerating migration of products to cloud deployment models. Cloud delivery met evolving customer expectations and created recurring revenue models.

Platform Modernization: Modernizing underlying technology platforms to improve performance, scalability, and development efficiency.

Integration Architecture: Building integration capabilities that connected Forterro’s diverse product portfolio into cohesive solutions.

Data and Analytics: Enhancing data and analytics capabilities that provided customer value and competitive differentiation.

Organizational Development

Leadership Team Building

Forbes invested significantly in building Forterro’s leadership team. He recruited experienced executives for key roles, developed internal talent, and created leadership structure capable of executing aggressive growth strategies.

Strategic Hiring: Recruiting leaders with specific capabilities needed for Forterro’s growth phase, including sales leadership, product management, and M&A expertise.

Internal Development: Promoting and developing internal talent to build organizational capabilities and retain institutional knowledge.

Team Alignment: Creating alignment among leadership team around shared vision, objectives, and values.

Culture Transformation

Forbes led cultural transformation to support Forterro’s growth ambitions:

Performance Culture: Building culture of high performance, accountability, and results orientation. Clear metrics and expectations drove performance improvement.

Customer Centricity: Deepening customer focus throughout the organization, ensuring that customer needs drove prioritization and decision-making.

Innovation Mindset: Encouraging innovation and calculated risk-taking while maintaining operational discipline.

Inclusion and Diversity: Building inclusive culture that leveraged diverse perspectives and created opportunities for talent from all backgrounds.

Talent Strategy

For Forbes, talent strategy was central to Forterro’s success:

Attracting Talent: Building Forterro’s employer brand to attract top talent in competitive technology markets. Forbes’s reputation as a leader helped attract strong candidates.

Developing People: Investing in professional development to build capabilities and career paths for employees. This investment improved performance and retention.

Retaining Key Talent: Creating compensation, recognition, and career opportunities that retained high performers critical to Forterro’s success.

Market Position and Competitive Dynamics

European ERP Market

Forterro operates in the European mid-market ERP sector, serving industrial companies with comprehensive business management software. This market is characterized by:

Customer Profile: Mid-sized industrial companies with complex operations requiring integrated software solutions. These customers value industry-specific functionality and local support.

Competitive Landscape: Competition from global ERP vendors like SAP and Oracle, as well as regional specialists. Differentiation requires deep industry expertise and customer intimacy.

Technology Trends: Cloud migration, digital transformation, and advanced analytics are reshaping customer expectations and competitive dynamics.

Market Fragmentation: The European market remains relatively fragmented, creating consolidation opportunities for well-capitalized players.

Forterro’s Competitive Position

Under Forbes’s leadership, Forterro strengthened its competitive position:

Industry Focus: Deep expertise in specific industrial verticals provided differentiation from generalist competitors.

Geographic Presence: Strong presence across European markets provided scale and customer intimacy that global competitors struggled to match.

Product Breadth: Comprehensive product portfolio addressing diverse customer needs from finance to manufacturing to supply chain.

Customer Relationships: Long-term customer relationships built on successful implementations and ongoing support.

Leadership Style at Forterro

Strategic Vision

Forbes provided clear strategic vision that aligned the organization around shared objectives. His vision articulated Forterro’s ambition to be the leading European ERP provider for mid-market industrial companies.

This vision was communicated consistently across the organization, creating alignment and motivating effort toward shared goals. Forbes’s ability to articulate compelling vision while grounding it in practical execution distinguished his leadership.

Execution Discipline

Forbes combined strategic vision with rigorous execution discipline. He established clear metrics, accountability structures, and review processes that ensured strategic priorities translated into operational action.

Regular business reviews tracked progress against objectives and identified issues requiring attention. This discipline created accountability while providing opportunities for course correction.

Stakeholder Engagement

Forbes engaged effectively with diverse stakeholders:

Employees: Regular communication with employees about company direction, performance, and their role in success. Visible presence and accessibility built connection with the workforce.

Customers: Direct customer engagement to understand needs and ensure customer perspectives informed company decisions.

Investors: Transparent communication with Partners Group about performance, strategy, and value creation.

Board: Effective partnership with Forterro’s board of directors, leveraging their guidance while driving executive accountability.

Transformation Leadership

Leading Forterro through significant transformation required particular leadership capabilities:

Change Management: Managing organizational change while maintaining morale and performance. Communication, involvement, and support helped employees navigate change.

Ambiguity Tolerance: Operating effectively amid uncertainty common in transformation periods. Decisions often required judgment without complete information.

Resilience Modeling: Modeling resilience and optimism that helped the organization persist through difficult transformation phases.

Future Outlook

Strategic Opportunities

Forterro under Forbes’s leadership faces significant strategic opportunities:

Digital Transformation: European industrial companies are accelerating digital transformation, creating demand for modern ERP solutions. Forterro is positioned to capture this demand.

Cloud Migration: Continued shift to cloud deployment models creates opportunities for revenue growth and competitive positioning.

Market Consolidation: Ongoing market consolidation provides acquisition opportunities to expand capabilities and geographic presence.

International Expansion: Beyond Europe, opportunities exist to extend Forterro’s model to other markets.

Challenges

Forterro also faces challenges that will test Forbes’s leadership:

Competition: Intensifying competition from well-funded global vendors requires continuous innovation and differentiation.

Technology Evolution: Rapid technology evolution requires ongoing investment to maintain product competitiveness.

Integration Complexity: Managing integration of acquired businesses while maintaining operational excellence.

Talent Competition: Competing for technology talent in tight labor markets.

Dean Forbes’s leadership at Forterro demonstrates his capabilities as a technology CEO. From his appointment through the Partners Group buyout to continued growth and value creation, he has established Forterro as a leading European ERP company. His strategic vision, execution discipline, and leadership of organizational transformation have created substantial value while building sustainable competitive capabilities. The company’s trajectory under his leadership positions it for continued success in the evolving European enterprise software market.

Products and Innovations

Forterro ERP Solutions

Enterprise Resource Planning Platform

Forterro provides comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions designed specifically for mid-sized industrial companies across Europe. Under Dean Forbes’s leadership, the company has continued developing and modernizing its product portfolio to address evolving customer needs.

Core ERP Capabilities: Forterro’s solutions integrate essential business functions including financial management, manufacturing operations, supply chain management, human resources, and customer relationship management. This integration enables customers to manage their operations through unified systems rather than disconnected applications.

Industry Specialization: Unlike generic ERP solutions, Forterro’s products incorporate deep industry-specific functionality for sectors including manufacturing, engineering, distribution, and services. This specialization provides capabilities that horizontal competitors cannot match.

Mid-Market Focus: Forterro specifically targets mid-sized companies that require sophisticated ERP capabilities without the complexity and cost of solutions designed for large enterprises. This focus enables appropriate functionality at accessible price points.

Cloud Transformation

Forbes has prioritized transformation of Forterro’s products from traditional on-premises deployment to cloud-based delivery models.

Cloud Migration: Forterro has accelerated migration of its product portfolio to cloud deployment, enabling customers to access software through subscription models rather than perpetual licenses. This transition aligns with broader industry trends toward software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery.

Benefits of Cloud Delivery: Cloud deployment provides customers with reduced IT infrastructure requirements, automatic updates, enhanced security, and improved accessibility. For Forterro, cloud models create recurring revenue streams and closer customer relationships.

Hybrid Approaches: Recognizing that customers have varying readiness for cloud migration, Forterro provides hybrid options that accommodate different deployment preferences during transition periods.

Product Portfolio

Forterro’s product portfolio includes multiple solutions serving different markets and needs:

ERP Systems: Core ERP platforms provide comprehensive business management capabilities. These systems integrate finance, operations, and human resources functions.

Manufacturing Solutions: Specialized solutions for manufacturing operations including production planning, shop floor control, quality management, and maintenance.

Supply Chain Management: Solutions addressing procurement, inventory management, logistics, and supply chain visibility.

Business Intelligence: Analytics and reporting capabilities that help customers extract insights from their operational data.

Industry-Specific Solutions: Vertical solutions tailored to specific industries including automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, and industrial equipment.

Technology Innovation

Digital Transformation Enablement

Forterro’s products enable customers’ digital transformation initiatives:

Process Automation: Workflow automation capabilities that streamline business processes and reduce manual effort. These capabilities help customers improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Data Integration: Integration capabilities connecting ERP systems with other enterprise applications, IoT devices, and external data sources. This integration creates unified data environments.

Mobile Access: Mobile applications enabling employees to access ERP functionality from smartphones and tablets. Mobile access supports workforce flexibility and real-time decision-making.

Advanced Analytics: Incorporation of advanced analytics including predictive capabilities that help customers anticipate demand, identify issues, and optimize operations.

Modern Architecture

Under Forbes’s leadership, Forterro has invested in modernizing its technology architecture:

Microservices: Adoption of microservices architecture that enables more agile development and deployment. This architecture supports faster innovation and easier maintenance.

APIs: Comprehensive APIs that enable integration with third-party applications and custom development. API-first approaches support ecosystem development.

Cloud-Native Development: Development practices optimized for cloud deployment including containerization, orchestration, and DevOps methodologies.

Security Enhancement: Continuous investment in security capabilities protecting customer data and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Customer Solutions and Services

Implementation Services

Forterro provides comprehensive implementation services ensuring successful customer deployments:

Consulting: Expert consulting guiding customers through system design, configuration, and implementation. Consultants bring industry and product expertise that accelerates deployment.

Training: Training programs developing customer capabilities to operate and extend their ERP systems. Training includes both initial onboarding and ongoing education.

Project Management: Structured project management ensuring implementations are delivered on time and within budget.

Support and Maintenance

Ongoing support services ensure customer success:

Technical Support: Responsive technical support addressing system issues and questions. Support is provided through multiple channels including phone, email, and online portals.

System Maintenance: Regular system updates providing new features, performance improvements, and security patches.

Account Management: Proactive account management ensuring customers realize full value from their investments.

Managed Services

Forterro offers managed services for customers preferring to outsource system operation:

Cloud Hosting: Managed cloud hosting providing reliable, secure system operation without customer IT infrastructure requirements.

Application Management: Application management services handling system administration, optimization, and issue resolution.

Continuous Improvement: Ongoing system optimization ensuring customers benefit from evolving capabilities.

Innovation in Go-to-Market

Customer-Centric Sales

Forbes has driven innovation in how Forterro engages customers:

Solution Selling: Sales approaches focused on understanding customer challenges and proposing solutions rather than simply presenting product features. This approach ensures customer needs drive engagement.

Industry Expertise: Sales teams organized around industry verticals with deep understanding of specific sector challenges and requirements.

Value Articulation: Clear articulation of business value including return on investment, operational improvements, and strategic benefits.

Digital Engagement

Forterro has developed digital capabilities for customer engagement:

Digital Marketing: Sophisticated digital marketing generating awareness and engagement with target customers.

Online Evaluation: Digital tools enabling customers to evaluate solutions online before engaging with sales teams.

Virtual Engagement: Virtual demonstration and evaluation capabilities that became essential during pandemic conditions and remain valuable for efficiency.

Partner Ecosystem

Forterro has built partner ecosystems extending its reach:

Implementation Partners: Network of implementation partners providing local presence and specialized expertise for customer deployments.

Technology Partners: Partnerships with complementary technology providers creating integrated solutions.

Consulting Partners: Relationships with consulting firms that recommend and implement Forterro solutions.

Diversity and Inclusion Innovation

Building Diverse Teams

Under Forbes’s leadership, Forterro has innovated in building diverse technology teams:

Inclusive Hiring: Hiring practices designed to identify and attract diverse talent, expanding beyond traditional recruitment channels.

Development Programs: Professional development programs supporting career advancement for underrepresented groups.

Inclusive Culture: Building inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued and all employees can contribute fully.

Industry Leadership

Forbes’s recognition as the most influential Black British person reflects Forterro’s contributions to diversity in technology:

Representation: Forbes’s visible leadership demonstrates that senior technology leadership is accessible to talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Mentorship: Forterro provides mentorship programs supporting development of diverse talent within the company and industry.

Advocacy: Forbes uses his platform to advocate for diversity in technology leadership, influencing broader industry practices.

Product Strategy Under Forbes

Investment Priorities

Forbes has established clear product investment priorities:

Customer-Driven Development: Product roadmap driven by customer needs rather than technology trends alone. Close customer engagement ensures development addresses real requirements.

Cloud First: Priority on cloud capabilities reflecting market direction and customer preferences. Cloud investments receive resources before traditional on-premises enhancements.

Industry Depth: Continued investment in industry-specific functionality that differentiates Forterro from horizontal competitors.

User Experience: Ongoing investment in user experience making systems more intuitive and accessible.

Acquisition Integration

Forterro’s product strategy includes integration of acquired products:

Portfolio Rationalization: Evaluating acquired products against strategic fit and consolidating where appropriate.

Integration Investment: Investing in integration of acquired products into cohesive offerings.

Capability Enhancement: Using acquisitions to add capabilities that strengthen overall product portfolio.

Competitive Positioning

Product strategy emphasizes competitive differentiation:

Mid-Market Excellence: Focus on being the best solution for mid-market industrial companies rather than competing across all segments.

European Expertise: Leveraging deep European market knowledge that global competitors lack.

Customer Intimacy: Building products based on close customer relationships and deep understanding of customer needs.

Under Dean Forbes’s leadership, Forterro has continued developing innovative ERP solutions while modernizing its technology platform and go-to-market approaches. The company’s products enable digital transformation for mid-sized industrial companies across Europe, providing comprehensive business management capabilities with industry-specific depth. Forbes’s strategic direction has emphasized cloud transformation, customer-centricity, and technology modernization that position Forterro for continued success in the evolving enterprise software market.

Financials and Business Performance

Forterro Financial Overview

Company Valuation

Forterro’s valuation has grown significantly under Dean Forbes’s leadership, reflecting strong operational performance and market positioning.

2022 Transaction Valuation: The Partners Group buyout in 2022 valued Forterro at 1 billion euros. This transaction price reflected the company’s scale, market position, and growth potential at that time.

2024 Estimated Valuation: By 2024, Forterro’s estimated valuation had grown to between 1.5 and 2 billion euros. This appreciation represents substantial value creation in a relatively short period.

Valuation Drivers: The valuation growth reflects multiple factors including revenue growth, margin improvement, successful acquisitions, technology modernization, and strengthened competitive position. Market conditions for software companies also influenced valuation.

Revenue and Growth

While Forterro is a private company and does not publicly disclose detailed financials, available information indicates strong growth under Forbes’s leadership:

Organic Growth: Forterro has achieved organic growth through customer acquisition, expansion of existing customer relationships, and price optimization. Digital transformation trends driving ERP demand have supported growth.

Acquisition Contribution: Strategic acquisitions have contributed significantly to growth, adding revenue from acquired companies and creating cross-sell opportunities.

Recurring Revenue: Cloud migration has increased recurring revenue as a percentage of total revenue, improving revenue predictability and quality.

Geographic Performance: Growth has been balanced across European markets, with particular strength in core markets and expansion in previously underpenetrated regions.

Profitability Metrics

Forterro’s profitability has improved under Forbes’s leadership:

Margin Improvement: Operational improvements including efficiency gains, pricing optimization, and scale economies have improved profit margins.

EBITDA Growth: EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) has grown through both revenue growth and margin improvement.

Cash Generation: Strong cash generation supports ongoing investment while providing returns to shareholders.

Unit Economics: Cloud subscription models provide attractive unit economics with high gross margins and customer lifetime values.

Dean Forbes Personal Wealth

Net Worth Estimation

Dean Forbes’s estimated net worth of 40-50 million pounds reflects his success as a technology executive and equity participation in Forterro’s growth.

Forterro Equity: A significant portion of Forbes’s wealth consists of equity in Forterro. As CEO leading the company through substantial value creation, his equity stake has appreciated considerably.

Executive Compensation: Forbes’s compensation as CEO includes salary, bonuses, and equity awards that have contributed to wealth accumulation.

Previous Roles: Wealth accumulation from previous executive positions including leadership at Access Systems and Oracle.

Investment Portfolio: Diversified investments beyond Forterro equity provide additional wealth components.

Wealth Creation Trajectory

Forbes’s wealth creation has accelerated significantly with his Forterro role:

Early Career: Early sales roles provided income but limited wealth accumulation. Focus was on career development and capability building.

Leadership Roles: Executive positions provided increasing compensation and equity participation, beginning significant wealth building.

Forterro CEO Role: The Forterro CEO position, combined with the company’s value appreciation, has driven substantial wealth creation.

Partners Group Transaction: The 2022 buyout provided liquidity and valuation that contributed significantly to wealth.

Wealth Management

Forbes has demonstrated sophisticated wealth management:

Diversification: While Forterro equity represents significant wealth concentration, Forbes has diversified across other assets.

Tax Efficiency: Tax-efficient wealth structures optimize after-tax returns and estate planning.

Philanthropic Commitment: Significant philanthropic commitment structures wealth for social impact alongside personal financial objectives.

Forterro Business Model

Software Revenue Models

Forterro employs multiple revenue models reflecting the evolving software industry:

Subscription Revenue: Cloud-based solutions generate recurring subscription revenue. This model provides predictable revenue streams and aligns vendor success with customer success.

License Revenue: Traditional perpetual license sales continue for on-premises deployments, though declining as a percentage of total revenue.

Maintenance Revenue: Annual maintenance fees for licensed software provide recurring revenue from installed base.

Services Revenue: Implementation, training, and consulting services generate additional revenue while ensuring customer success.

Cloud Transition Economics

The transition to cloud delivery models affects Forterro’s economics:

Revenue Recognition: Cloud subscriptions recognize revenue over time rather than upfront, affecting reported revenue and cash flow timing.

Gross Margins: Cloud delivery can improve gross margins by eliminating customer-specific infrastructure costs, though hosting costs must be managed.

Customer Lifetime Value: Subscription models create opportunities for increased customer lifetime value through ongoing relationships and expansion revenue.

Cash Flow Dynamics: Cloud transitions can temporarily depress cash flow as upfront license revenue is replaced by subscription revenue recognized over time.

Customer Economics

Forterro’s customer economics support business model sustainability:

Customer Acquisition Cost: Investment in sales and marketing to acquire new customers, recovered through ongoing customer relationships.

Customer Retention: High retention rates reflect mission-critical nature of ERP systems and customer success focus.

Expansion Revenue: Existing customers provide expansion revenue through additional users, modules, and services.

Customer Lifetime Value: Strong unit economics with customer lifetime values significantly exceeding acquisition costs.

Private Equity Structure

Partners Group Investment

The Partners Group investment structure provides Forterro with resources and strategic support:

Capital Commitment: Partners Group’s investment provides capital for acquisitions, technology investment, and growth initiatives.

Governance: Board representation and governance structures ensure alignment between management and investors.

Value Creation Timeline: Private equity ownership typically involves 4-7 year holding periods, creating focus on near-term value creation.

Exit Planning: Ultimate exit through sale or public offering will provide liquidity for equity holders including Forbes.

Management Incentive Alignment

The transaction structure aligns management incentives with value creation:

Equity Participation: Forbes and key team members hold equity providing direct participation in value appreciation.

Performance Targets: Compensation includes performance targets tied to growth and profitability objectives.

Vesting Schedules: Equity vesting over time ensures continued commitment and retention.

Industry Economics

European ERP Market

Forterro operates in the European ERP market characterized by:

Market Size: The European ERP market represents billions of euros in annual spending, providing substantial addressable market.

Growth Drivers: Digital transformation, cloud migration, and regulatory requirements drive market growth.

Competitive Dynamics: Competition from global vendors (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft) and regional specialists creates competitive pressure.

Customer Profile: Mid-market industrial companies with complex operations requiring integrated management systems.

Mid-Market Focus Economics

Forterro’s mid-market focus creates specific economic dynamics:

Price Points: Mid-market solutions command lower price points than enterprise solutions but higher volumes.

Sales Cycles: Shorter sales cycles than enterprise deals enable more efficient customer acquisition.

Implementation Complexity: Less complex implementations than enterprise projects reduce risk and cost.

Retention Rates: Strong retention reflecting mission-critical nature of ERP systems and customer success focus.

Consolidation Economics

Market consolidation creates economic opportunities:

Acquisition Multiples: Acquisitions in fragmented markets often available at attractive valuations.

Synergy Capture: Operational synergies from combining acquired companies improve economics.

Market Power: Scale provides purchasing power and competitive advantages.

Exit Valuation: Consolidated businesses command premium valuations relative to standalone companies.

Financial Strategy

Capital Allocation

Forbes has established clear capital allocation priorities:

Organic Investment: Significant investment in product development, sales capabilities, and customer success to drive organic growth.

Acquisitions: Strategic acquisitions to expand capabilities, geography, and market presence.

Debt Management: Prudent debt management using leverage to enhance returns while maintaining financial flexibility.

Shareholder Returns: Balance between reinvestment for growth and returns to shareholders.

Growth Investment

Forterro invests significantly in growth:

R&D Investment: Product development investment maintaining competitive technology and adding capabilities.

Sales Investment: Sales and marketing investment driving customer acquisition and market expansion.

Talent Investment: Investment in talent acquisition and development building organizational capabilities.

Infrastructure Investment: Technology and operational infrastructure supporting scale and efficiency.

Risk Management

Financial risk management under Forbes includes:

Diversification: Geographic and vertical diversification reducing concentration risk.

Currency Management: Management of currency exposure across European markets.

Customer Concentration: Managing customer concentration to avoid over-dependence on individual customers.

Technology Risk: Investment in technology modernization reducing obsolescence risk.

Economic Impact

Employment Creation

Forterro under Forbes’s leadership creates significant employment:

Direct Employment: Thousands of employees across European offices in development, sales, consulting, and support roles.

Indirect Employment: Partner ecosystem creates additional employment in implementation and consulting.

Quality Jobs: Technology sector jobs provide competitive compensation and career development opportunities.

Customer Economic Impact

Forterro’s solutions generate economic value for customers:

Efficiency Gains: ERP implementations generate operational efficiencies and cost savings for customer businesses.

Productivity Improvement: Process automation and improved information access enhance workforce productivity.

Competitive Position: Modern ERP capabilities help customers compete effectively in their markets.

Ecosystem Economic Contribution

Forterro contributes to broader technology ecosystem:

Partner Revenue: Partner ecosystem generates significant revenue through Forterro-related services.

Technology Spending: Infrastructure and technology purchases from vendors support broader technology economy.

Skill Development: Workforce development contributes to European technology talent pool.

Dean Forbes’s leadership has created substantial financial value at Forterro, growing the company from a 1 billion euro valuation to an estimated 1.5-2 billion euros while building sustainable business economics. His personal wealth reflects this value creation while his financial management ensures resources are deployed effectively for continued growth. The company’s business model evolution, private equity structure, and industry economics position Forterro for continued financial success under his leadership.

Leadership Style

Executive Leadership Philosophy

Dean Forbes’s leadership style reflects his journey from entry-level sales to CEO of a major European technology company. His approach combines the results orientation developed through sales experience with the strategic perspective required for executive leadership. Forbes leads through clear vision, accountability, and genuine investment in people development.

Results-Driven Leadership

Forbes’s foundation in sales instilled deep results orientation that characterizes his leadership. He establishes clear objectives, tracks performance rigorously, and holds himself and others accountable for outcomes. This results focus does not mean purely financial metrics; Forbes recognizes that sustainable results require investment in people, customers, and capabilities.

Performance Culture: Forbes has built cultures where high performance is expected and recognized. Clear expectations, regular feedback, and appropriate consequences for performance create accountability.

Metric-Driven Management: Decisions are informed by data and metrics rather than intuition alone. Forbes uses metrics to identify issues, track progress, and guide resource allocation.

Outcome Focus: Activity and effort are valued when they produce outcomes. Forbes maintains focus on results rather than simply presence or effort.

Strategic Vision with Execution Discipline

Forbes combines strategic thinking with execution capability rare in leaders who excel at only one dimension.

Vision Articulation: Forbes articulates clear, compelling strategic vision that aligns and motivates organizations. His vision for Forterro as the leading European ERP provider for mid-market industrials provides clear direction.

Strategic Planning: Rigorous strategic planning processes translate vision into actionable plans with clear priorities, resource allocation, and accountability.

Execution Excellence: Forbes ensures that strategic plans translate into operational action through disciplined execution processes including regular reviews, issue escalation, and course correction.

Adaptability: While maintaining strategic direction, Forbes adapts tactics based on market feedback and changing conditions.

People-Centered Leadership

Talent Development Focus

Despite results orientation, Forbes’s leadership is fundamentally people-centered. He recognizes that organizational success depends on talented, motivated people and invests accordingly.

Hiring Excellence: Forbes prioritizes hiring exceptional talent, investing time in recruiting and selection. He recognizes that hiring decisions have lasting impact on organizational capability.

Development Investment: Forbes invests in developing people through training, challenging assignments, and mentorship. He creates pathways for career advancement that retain top performers.

Leadership Pipeline: Building leadership pipeline ensures organizational sustainability and provides growth opportunities that retain ambitious talent.

Recognition and Reward: Forbes ensures that high performers are recognized and rewarded appropriately. Compensation, promotion, and recognition align with contribution.

Inclusive Leadership

As a Black executive who has achieved significant success, Forbes models inclusive leadership that creates opportunities for diverse talent.

Diversity Commitment: Forbes is genuinely committed to diversity and inclusion, recognizing that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones and that creating opportunities for underrepresented talent is both right and smart.

Meritocratic Culture: While committed to diversity, Forbes maintains meritocratic standards. Diversity initiatives aim to ensure all talent has opportunity to compete and contribute, not to lower standards.

Mentorship and Sponsorship: Forbes actively mentors and sponsors emerging leaders, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. He uses his position to create opportunities for others.

Visible Representation: As one of the most visible Black executives in European technology, Forbes’s presence demonstrates that senior leadership is accessible to talented individuals from all backgrounds.

Communication and Engagement

Transparent Communication

Forbes practices transparent communication that builds trust and alignment.

Regular Communication: Regular all-hands meetings, newsletters, and other channels keep employees informed about company performance, strategy, and priorities.

Honest Assessment: Forbes communicates honestly about both successes and challenges. This honesty builds credibility and prepares the organization for necessary actions.

Accessibility: Despite executive responsibilities, Forbes maintains accessibility to employees at various levels. He is known for engaging directly with frontline employees and listening to their perspectives.

External Communication: Forbes represents Forterro effectively to external stakeholders including customers, investors, media, and industry groups.

Stakeholder Engagement

Forbes engages effectively with diverse stakeholders:

Employee Engagement: Forbes invests in understanding employee sentiment and addressing concerns. Employee engagement is viewed as both a metric to optimize and a moral responsibility.

Customer Intimacy: Direct customer engagement ensures Forbes understands market needs and maintains customer perspective in strategic decisions.

Investor Relations: Transparent, proactive communication with Partners Group and other investors builds confidence and alignment.

Board Partnership: Effective partnership with Forterro’s board leverages their guidance while maintaining management accountability.

Decision-Making Approach

Data-Informed Judgment

Forbes combines data analysis with experienced judgment in decision-making.

Information Gathering: Decisions are preceded by thorough information gathering including data analysis, stakeholder input, and expert consultation.

Analytical Framework: Structured analysis informs decisions, but Forbes recognizes that not all factors can be quantified.

Timely Decisions: Forbes makes decisions with appropriate speed, avoiding both rushed conclusions and analysis paralysis.

Accountability: Once decisions are made, Forbes takes accountability for outcomes and expects the same from his team.

Risk Management

Forbes approaches risk thoughtfully:

Calculated Risk: Business requires risk-taking, and Forbes takes calculated risks when potential returns justify potential downsides.

Risk Awareness: Decisions explicitly consider risks and develop mitigation strategies.

Failure Learning: When risks do not pay off, Forbes focuses on learning rather than blame.

Ethical Boundaries: Forbes maintains clear ethical boundaries, refusing risks that would compromise integrity or values.

Transformation Leadership

Change Management

Leading Forterro through significant transformation has required particular leadership capabilities.

Vision for Change: Forbes articulates compelling vision for why change is necessary and what successful transformation looks like.

Stakeholder Alignment: Building alignment among diverse stakeholders including employees, customers, and investors around change initiatives.

Change Sequencing: Sequencing changes to maintain organizational stability while driving transformation.

Resilience: Maintaining resilience and optimism through the inevitable challenges of major transformation.

Crisis Leadership

Forbes has demonstrated crisis leadership capabilities:

Composed Response: Maintaining composure under pressure that reassures stakeholders and enables clear thinking.

Rapid Response: Moving quickly to address crises while ensuring decisions are sound.

Communication: Clear, frequent communication during crises that keeps stakeholders informed and aligned.

Learning: Using crises as learning opportunities that strengthen the organization.

Leadership Evolution

From Sales to Strategy

Forbes’s leadership has evolved from sales execution to strategic leadership:

Early Career: Early leadership focused on sales team management and individual deal execution.

Functional Leadership: Leading functions including sales, marketing, and operations developed broader business perspective.

General Management: General management roles required balancing multiple priorities and building organizational capabilities.

CEO Leadership: CEO role requires setting vision, managing stakeholders, and building sustainable organizations.

Continuous Development

Forbes continues developing his leadership capabilities:

Learning Orientation: Forbes maintains learning orientation, seeking new knowledge and perspectives.

Feedback Seeking: Actively seeking feedback on his leadership and making adjustments.

Peer Learning: Engaging with peer executives to share experiences and learn from others.

Executive Education: Participating in executive education programs that expand capabilities.

Representation and Impact

Breaking Barriers

Forbes’s leadership has significance beyond Forterro specifically:

Representation: As a Black CEO of a major European technology company, Forbes provides representation that was rare when he began his career.

Pathway Demonstration: His success demonstrates pathways to leadership for talented individuals from non-traditional backgrounds.

Inspiration: Forbes inspires emerging leaders who see in his success possibility for their own advancement.

Industry Influence

Forbes’s leadership influence extends across the technology industry:

Best Practice Sharing: Forbes shares leadership practices through speaking, media, and industry engagement.

Board Service: Service on boards and advisory roles extends his influence to other organizations.

Thought Leadership: Forbes contributes to discussions about technology leadership, diversity, and European competitiveness.

Assessment

Leadership Effectiveness

Forbes’s leadership effectiveness is evidenced by:

Business Results: Forterro’s growth in valuation and performance under his leadership.

Team Strength: The quality of team Forbes has built around him.

Employee Engagement: Employee satisfaction and retention metrics.

Stakeholder Confidence: Confidence expressed by investors, customers, and partners.

Leadership Distinctiveness

Forbes’s leadership is distinguished by:

Sales Foundation: Results orientation from sales background differentiates from leaders with purely analytical or functional backgrounds.

Authenticity: Forbes’s authentic, direct style builds trust and connection.

People Investment: Genuine investment in people development beyond rhetoric.

Representation Significance: The symbolic and practical significance of his success as a Black leader in European technology.

Dean Forbes’s leadership style combines results discipline, strategic vision, people investment, and authentic communication. His approach has proven effective in driving Forterro’s growth while building organizational capabilities and stakeholder confidence. As a visible example of diverse leadership success, his leadership extends impact beyond his specific organizational responsibilities to influence broader industry practices and inspire emerging leaders.

Philanthropy and Social Impact

Overview of Philanthropic Activities

Dean Forbes’s philanthropic work reflects his journey from South London to business leadership and his commitment to creating opportunities for others from similar backgrounds. His giving focuses on education, technology access, diversity in business, and community development in underserved areas. Forbes approaches philanthropy with the same strategic thinking and execution discipline he applies to business.

His philanthropic philosophy emphasizes empowerment through opportunity creation rather than dependency-creating charity. Drawing on his own experience of finding success through determination and opportunity, Forbes seeks to create pathways for others to achieve their potential.

Education and Youth Development

STEM Education Support

Forbes supports programs promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, particularly in underserved communities:

School Programs: Support for STEM programs in schools serving low-income communities, providing resources for equipment, curriculum materials, and teacher training.

Coding Initiatives: Support for coding and computer science programs teaching young people technology skills. These programs provide pathways into technology careers.

Scholarship Programs: Scholarships enabling talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education in technology and business fields.

Mentorship Programs: Programs connecting students with professionals who can provide guidance and inspiration.

Early Career Support

Forbes invests in programs supporting early career development:

Internship Programs: Support for internship programs providing work experience for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

Apprenticeships: Support for apprenticeship programs combining work and study for those not pursuing traditional university education.

Career Guidance: Programs providing career guidance and exposure to opportunities in technology and business.

University and Higher Education

Forbes’s support extends to higher education:

University Scholarships: Scholarships for students attending university, particularly those studying technology, business, and related fields.

Access Programs: Support for university access programs helping students from underrepresented backgrounds navigate admissions and succeed in higher education.

Entrepreneurship Programs: Support for university entrepreneurship programs that teach business skills and support student ventures.

Diversity in Technology and Business

Representation Initiatives

As one of the most successful Black executives in European technology, Forbes actively supports initiatives increasing diversity in technology and business leadership:

Leadership Programs: Support for programs developing diverse leadership talent in technology and business.

Mentorship Networks: Facilitation of mentorship connecting emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds with experienced executives.

Visibility Initiatives: Support for initiatives increasing visibility of diverse leaders as role models for emerging talent.

Recruitment Innovation: Support for organizations developing innovative approaches to diverse talent recruitment.

Workplace Inclusion

Forbes supports organizations working to create more inclusive workplaces:

Inclusive Culture Development: Support for programs helping organizations build inclusive cultures where diverse talent can thrive.

Bias Training: Support for training programs addressing unconscious bias in hiring, promotion, and workplace interactions.

Policy Advocacy: Advocacy for policies promoting diversity and inclusion in business and technology.

Entrepreneurship Support

Forbes supports diverse entrepreneurs:

Entrepreneurship Education: Programs teaching entrepreneurship to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Funding Access: Support for initiatives improving access to capital for diverse entrepreneurs.

Network Access: Facilitating network access for diverse entrepreneurs who may lack traditional connections.

Community Investment

London Community Support

Forbes maintains connection to London communities and directs philanthropic attention there:

Lewisham Investment: Support for programs serving Lewisham and surrounding areas where Forbes grew up.

Youth Centers: Investment in youth centers providing safe spaces and positive activities for young people.

Community Organizations: Support for community organizations addressing local challenges and creating opportunities.

Economic Development

Forbes supports economic development initiatives:

Small Business Support: Programs supporting small business development in underserved communities.

Job Training: Job training programs providing skills for employment in growing sectors.

Employment Programs: Programs connecting job seekers with employers, particularly in technology sector.

Sports and Youth Development

Football and Athletics

Drawing on his own athletic background, Forbes supports sports programs for youth development:

Youth Sports Programs: Support for youth sports programs providing coaching, facilities, and competition opportunities.

Academic-Athletic Balance: Programs emphasizing balance between athletic and academic development.

Character Development: Sports programs emphasizing character development including teamwork, discipline, and resilience.

Life Skills Through Sports

Forbes recognizes that sports can teach valuable life skills:

Leadership Development: Sports programs developing leadership capabilities in young people.

Health and Wellness: Programs promoting physical health and wellness habits.

Community Building: Sports as vehicle for community building and positive social connection.

Healthcare and Wellness

Health Access

Forbes supports initiatives improving healthcare access:

Community Health: Support for community health initiatives serving underserved populations.

Preventive Care: Programs promoting preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices.

Mental Health: Support for mental health services, particularly for young people.

Wellness Programs

Forbes recognizes the importance of holistic wellness:

Stress Management: Programs teaching stress management and resilience.

Work-Life Balance: Support for initiatives promoting healthy work-life balance.

Philanthropic Approach

Strategic Philanthropy

Forbes applies strategic thinking to philanthropy:

Outcome Focus: Philanthropic investments evaluated based on outcomes and impact rather than inputs or good intentions.

Leverage Seeking: Preference for approaches that create multiplier effects and sustainable change.

Collaboration: Working with other donors and organizations to maximize impact.

Measurement: Attention to measuring and evaluating philanthropic impact.

Personal Engagement

Forbes’s philanthropy involves personal engagement:

Direct Involvement: Active participation in programs and initiatives he supports, not simply financial contribution.

Mentorship: Personal mentorship of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

Network Activation: Using his network to support causes and create opportunities.

Long-Term Commitment

Forbes takes a long-term perspective on philanthropy:

Sustained Support: Ongoing commitment to priority causes rather than one-time donations.

Institution Building: Support for building sustainable institutions that continue impact beyond individual involvement.

Legacy Planning: Planning for philanthropic legacy that extends impact over time.

Partnerships and Recognition

Corporate Partnerships

Forbes facilitates partnerships between Forterro and charitable initiatives:

Corporate Social Responsibility: Integrating social responsibility into Forterro’s business activities.

Employee Engagement: Engaging Forterro employees in volunteer and giving programs.

Pro Bono Services: Providing technology expertise to nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofit Partnerships

Forbes partners with established nonprofit organizations:

Educational Organizations: Partnerships with schools, universities, and educational nonprofits.

Community Organizations: Partnerships with community-based organizations serving target populations.

Industry Organizations: Partnerships with technology industry organizations promoting diversity.

Recognition and Influence

Forbes uses his platform for philanthropic impact:

Awareness Raising: Using his visibility to raise awareness for causes he supports.

Advocacy: Advocating for policies and practices that advance his philanthropic priorities.

Inspiring Others: Inspiring other successful individuals to engage in philanthropy.

Future Directions

Expanding Impact

As Forbes’s resources grow, his philanthropic activities are likely to expand:

Scale Increase: Increased giving capacity enabling larger grants and broader program support.

Geographic Expansion: Extension of successful programs to additional communities.

New Initiatives: Development of new initiatives addressing emerging needs.

Institutional Development

Forbes may develop more institutional structures for philanthropy:

Foundation Establishment: Formal foundation structure for systematic grant-making.

Program Sustainability: Development of sustainable program models that continue without ongoing founder involvement.

Successor Development: Preparation of next-generation leadership for continued philanthropic impact.

Impact Measurement

Forbes is likely to increase focus on impact measurement:

Outcome Metrics: Development of clear metrics measuring philanthropic outcomes.

Evaluation Investment: Investment in rigorous evaluation of philanthropic investments.

Transparency: Increased transparency about philanthropic activities and results.

Dean Forbes’s philanthropic work reflects his values, experiences, and success. From education and youth development to diversity in technology to community investment, his giving focuses on creating opportunities and pathways for others. His strategic approach, personal engagement, and commitment to measurable impact distinguish his philanthropy. As his resources and platform continue to grow, his philanthropic impact is likely to expand significantly, extending the influence he has through business leadership to broader social impact.

Legacy

Pioneering Black Leadership in European Technology

Dean Forbes’s most significant legacy is his demonstration that Black executives can lead major European technology companies to exceptional success. At a time when diversity in technology leadership remains limited, Forbes’s achievement as CEO of a multi-billion euro software company provides powerful evidence of what is possible and creates pathways for others to follow.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

When Forbes assumed leadership of Forterro, few Black executives held CEO positions at major European technology companies. His success challenges assumptions about who can lead in European business and demonstrates that talent and capability, not background, determine leadership potential.

This breakthrough extends beyond symbolic significance. Forbes’s actual performance, growing Forterro’s value from 1 billion to 1.5-2 billion euros, demonstrates that diverse leadership delivers results. The combination of representation and performance creates compelling case for diversity in leadership that influences hiring and promotion decisions across the industry.

Creating Pathways

Forbes’s success creates pathways for others by:

Demonstrating Possibility: Young professionals from underrepresented backgrounds can see in Forbes’s success that their ambitions are achievable.

Building Networks: Forbes actively develops relationships with emerging talent, providing connections and opportunities that accelerate their advancement.

Mentoring Successors: Through mentorship, Forbes transfers knowledge and capabilities to next-generation leaders.

Changing Norms: His visibility changes perceptions of what leadership looks like, gradually normalizing diversity at the highest levels.

Transformation of Forterro

Business Transformation

Forbes’s leadership has fundamentally transformed Forterro from a collection of acquired ERP businesses into an integrated, growth-oriented technology company. This transformation includes:

Strategic Clarity: Clear strategic positioning as the leading European ERP provider for mid-market industrial companies.

Operational Excellence: Operational improvements creating efficiency and scalability.

Technology Modernization: Modernization of product portfolio for cloud delivery and digital transformation needs.

Growth Acceleration: Accelerated growth through organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions.

Value Creation: Substantial value creation evidenced by valuation appreciation from 1 billion to 1.5-2 billion euros.

Organizational Transformation

Beyond business metrics, Forbes has transformed Forterro’s organization:

Leadership Development: Building leadership team and capabilities that will sustain success beyond his tenure.

Cultural Evolution: Evolving culture toward high performance, customer focus, and inclusion.

Talent Magnet: Establishing Forterro as destination for top technology talent.

Capability Building: Building organizational capabilities in cloud delivery, customer success, and acquisition integration.

Influence on European Technology

European Technology Leadership

Forbes’s success contributes to European technology competitiveness:

Local Success: Demonstration that European technology companies can compete globally without relocating to Silicon Valley.

Leadership Model: Model of European technology leadership combining American-style growth orientation with European market understanding.

Ecosystem Development: Contribution to European technology ecosystem through employment, partnerships, and investment.

Talent Retention: Demonstration that exceptional careers are possible in European technology, helping retain talent that might otherwise relocate.

Mid-Market ERP Innovation

Forbes’s leadership at Forterro influences mid-market ERP sector:

Market Consolidation: Forterro’s consolidation strategy influences market structure and competitive dynamics.

Cloud Transition: Forterro’s cloud migration provides model for other traditional software companies navigating similar transitions.

Customer Success: Emphasis on customer success influences how ERP vendors engage and retain customers.

Vertical Strategy: Industry vertical focus provides model for specialization strategies in competitive markets.

Representation and Inspiration

Powerlist Recognition

Forbes’s recognition as the most influential Black British person in 2025 reflects and amplifies his legacy:

Validation: The Powerlist recognition validates Forbes’s impact across business and broader society.

Visibility: Recognition increases visibility of his success and its significance.

Responsibility: The recognition creates platform and responsibility to use influence for positive impact.

Inspiration: The recognition inspires others from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing ambitious goals.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Forbes’s story inspires young people, particularly from backgrounds similar to his own:

South London Inspiration: Success from Lewisham demonstrates that global business leadership is accessible regardless of starting point.

Non-Traditional Path: Career success without elite education credentials provides model for those taking alternative paths.

Overcoming Setbacks: Navigation of career setbacks including end of football aspirations provides resilience model.

Ongoing Journey: Forbes’s continuing career evolution demonstrates that success is ongoing journey rather than destination.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Executive Leadership Model

Forbes’s executive leadership provides model for technology leaders:

Sales to CEO Path: Career progression from sales to CEO provides roadmap for non-traditional paths to executive leadership.

Results Culture: Building results-oriented cultures that deliver sustainable performance.

People Investment: Investing in people as foundation for organizational success.

Transformation Leadership: Leading organizations through significant transformation while maintaining performance.

Industry Voice

Forbes contributes to industry discourse:

Speaking and Media: Regular speaking and media engagement sharing leadership insights and perspectives.

Board Service: Service on boards and advisory roles extending influence to other organizations.

Advocacy: Advocacy for diversity, European technology competitiveness, and inclusive growth.

Long-Term Impact Assessment

Sustainable Business Building

Forbes’s legacy at Forterro will ultimately depend on sustainable success:

Leadership Succession: Development of successor leadership ensuring continuity after his tenure.

Capability Durability: Building durable capabilities that sustain performance through market cycles.

Customer Relationships: Customer relationships and satisfaction that persist beyond individual leadership.

Market Position: Market position that withstands competitive pressure and technology evolution.

Industry Transformation

Forbes’s influence on industry will be assessed by:

Diversity Progress: Progress on diversity in technology leadership inspired by his example.

European Competitiveness: European technology competitiveness enhanced by his contributions.

Leadership Quality: Quality of leadership across industry influenced by his example and mentorship.

Innovation Impact: Innovation in ERP and enterprise software influenced by Forterro’s strategies.

Philanthropic Legacy

Education and Opportunity

Forbes’s philanthropic investments in education create lasting impact:

Individual Lives Changed: Scholarships and programs changing individual trajectories through education access.

Capability Building: Programs building capabilities that persist and multiply through beneficiaries’ subsequent impact.

Institution Strengthening: Strengthened institutions continuing to serve communities over time.

Norm Shifting: Shifting norms about who belongs in technology and business leadership.

Community Impact

Philanthropic impact on communities:

Lewisham and London: Lasting impact on communities where Forbes grew up and maintains connection.

Economic Opportunity: Economic opportunity created through entrepreneurship support and job creation.

Social Capital: Social capital developed through mentorship and network building.

Inspiration Multiplier: Inspiration that multiplies as beneficiaries inspire others.

Ongoing Legacy Development

Current Impact

Forbes’s legacy continues developing through current activities:

Forterro Leadership: Ongoing value creation and organizational building at Forterro.

Mentorship Relationships: Mentorship of emerging leaders who will carry lessons into their own leadership.

Public Voice: Speaking, writing, and media presence spreading influence.

Philanthropic Expansion: Expanding philanthropic activities with growing resources.

Future Trajectory

Forbes’s legacy trajectory depends on future developments:

Forterro Exit: Ultimate exit from Forterro and subsequent activities will shape legacy assessment.

Subsequent Ventures: Future business ventures extending impact beyond Forterro.

Expanded Philanthropy: Expanded philanthropy with accumulated resources.

Institutional Building: Development of institutions perpetuating impact beyond personal involvement.

Assessment and Perspective

Contemporary Recognition

Contemporary assessment of Forbes emphasizes:

Business Achievement: Recognition of exceptional business results at Forterro.

Representation Significance: Acknowledgment of significance as Black leader in European technology.

Leadership Quality: Recognition of leadership capabilities and style.

Role Model Function: Appreciation of role model function for emerging leaders.

Historical Significance

Historical assessment will likely emphasize:

Pioneering Role: Role as pioneer who opened doors for subsequent diverse leaders.

Business Building: Substantial business building creating economic value and employment.

Industry Influence: Influence on European technology industry development.

Social Impact: Broader social impact through representation and philanthropy.

Legacy Comparison

Forbes’s legacy can be compared to other pioneering business leaders:

Common Elements: Similar to other pioneers, Forbes overcame barriers, achieved exceptional results, and created pathways for others.

Distinctive Elements: European context, technology sector focus, and specific timing distinguish his particular legacy.

Unique Contribution: Forbes’s unique contribution lies in demonstrating Black executive success in European technology at scale.

Dean Forbes’s legacy encompasses pioneering leadership in European technology, transformation of Forterro, inspiration for emerging leaders, and philanthropic impact. His success as CEO growing a multi-billion euro software company while providing representation in a sector where diversity remains limited creates multifaceted legacy extending across business and society. As his career continues to evolve, his legacy will develop further, with full assessment necessarily remaining provisional as ongoing contributions add to historical significance. The foundation established through his business success, leadership example, and commitment to creating opportunities for others positions his legacy to endure and influence future generations of leaders.