He Was Homeless Twice as a Teen, Then Became CEO of a Billion-Euro Company

Dean Forbes thought professional football was going to be his future. As a teenager growing up in southeast London, he was playing in Crystal Palace’s youth system and working toward a career in the sport.

But injuries and his eventual release from the club ended that dream when he was just 17. His family was also struggling. They had experienced homelessness twice during his teenage years, and Forbes was facing the prospect of adulthood without the career or financial security he’d hoped for.

Instead of playing football professionally, he found a job answering phones at a Motorola call centre. Years later, he would become the CEO of Forterro, a European technology company valued at approximately €2 billion.

Growing Up With Uncertainty

Forbes was raised by a mother who lived with muscular dystrophy, a condition that gradually weakens muscles. She worked hard to support the family, while Forbes helped care for his younger brothers from an early age.

Money was often tight, and the family lost stable housing on two separate occasions. They spent time in hostels and temporary accommodation, trying to get back on their feet.

During one particularly difficult period, his mother lost her job, making it impossible to keep their home. Forbes eventually moved out so his mother and younger brothers could find somewhere smaller and more affordable to live.

Football had offered him a way to change their circumstances. With that option gone, he needed another opportunity.

An Unexpected Talent for Sales

His job at Motorola wasn’t glamorous. He worked in a call centre, speaking with customers and trying to meet sales targets.

But Forbes discovered something about himself. The competitive drive he’d developed playing football translated surprisingly well to selling.

He enjoyed having goals to reach and being able to measure his performance. Every successful sale was another small victory, and every rejection was an opportunity to improve.

He proved to be good at the work, particularly when it came to understanding customers and building relationships. That experience helped him move into the technology industry, where his sales ability began opening doors to increasingly senior positions.

From the Call Centre to Oracle

In 2000, Forbes joined Primavera Systems, a company that developed software for managing complex projects. He steadily took on greater responsibilities, eventually overseeing business operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

The company was expanding internationally, and Forbes helped develop its presence in new markets. In 2008, technology giant Oracle acquired Primavera. Rather than leaving after the takeover, Forbes received an opportunity to take on an even bigger role.

Oracle appointed him to lead worldwide sales and marketing for a related division. According to his corporate biography, the appointment made him Oracle’s youngest vice president in nearly thirty years.

The teenager who had once worked in a call centre was now holding a senior leadership position at one of the world’s largest software companies.

Building and Selling Technology Companies

Forbes continued developing his career by joining companies that were ready for major expansion. He moved to KDS, a Paris-based travel software business, where he eventually became chief executive.

Under his leadership, the company grew internationally before being acquired by American Express Global Business Travel in 2016. His next major role was at CoreHR, an Irish company specializing in human resources and payroll software.

Forbes became CEO and helped expand its European operations. In 2020, CoreHR was acquired by The Access Group, another major software company.

Following the acquisition, he served as a president within Access, bringing his experience to a much larger organization. By then, Forbes had developed a reputation for helping technology businesses expand and guiding them through major changes.

Taking Charge of Forterro

In March 2021, Forbes became CEO of Forterro, a European software group serving manufacturing and other industrial businesses. Forterro provides enterprise software that helps companies manage operations, finances, production and other parts of their business.

The role placed Forbes in charge of a growing international organization with customers throughout Europe. In 2024, The Guardian reported that Forterro was valued at approximately €2 billion.

It was a remarkable position for someone whose first professional job had involved answering customer calls. Forbes had spent more than two decades developing the skills that brought him there, moving from sales into international management and eventually leading entire companies.

But his professional success also gave him the resources to pursue another ambition.

Helping Young People Find Their Own Opportunities

In 2020, Forbes established the Forbes Family Group, an organization focused on investment, mentoring and improving access to opportunities. He wanted to support talented people who might otherwise struggle to enter business because of their backgrounds or circumstances.

The group’s initiatives have helped young people access education, training and promising careers. According to figures reported by Forterro, those efforts have supported more than 1,170 young people moving from difficult circumstances toward better opportunities.

Forbes has also supported charitable organizations, including the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust. His achievements received national attention in October 2024, when the Powerlist named him Britain’s most influential Black person for its 2025 edition.

The recognition reflected both his success in technology and his commitment to helping others advance. Forbes has spoken about the importance of successful people becoming mentors and making professional networks more accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded.

His own first opportunity came from a call centre that gave him a headset, a sales target and a chance to prove himself.

Now he’s helping other young people find their first opportunity.