Michael Howard, company chairman

Michael Howard was born into poverty in London and by the time he was sixteen he was fending for himself. He juggles several low-paid jobs just to cover his room and board before he got a break selling office furniture. He worked his way up through the business until he was able to buy it. Maris Interiors now designs and fits out office spaces throughout London and has a turnover of around 100 million pounds a year. I sat down with Michael in the corner office he occupies in the shadows of the the Shard building in central London to hear his incredible rags to riches story…

Michael Howard was born in 1960s London and brought up largely by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet. At 17, he was left to fend for himself, juggling several low-paid jobs just to cover his room and board. Then he got a break selling office furniture and he slowly worked his way up through the business until he was in a position to buy it. Maris Interiors now designs and fits out office spaces throughout London and has a turnover of around 100 million pounds a year. Max Foster sat down with Michael in the office he occupies in the shadows of the Shard building to hear his incredible rags to riches story.

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