Andy Preston
Andy Preston is Chair and founder of CEO Sleepout charity. Born and raised in Middlesbrough, Andy gained an MA from the University of Edinburgh before working in London as financial markets trader.
He successfully built and ran a number of trading businesses for international financial organisations, later creating and managing a large hedge fund group for a European bank.
After moving back to the North East, he supported a number of local businesses, providing them with ideas and capital.
Andy’s extensive experience of charities includes being a patron of international children’s charity ARK (2003-08) and regional chair of Fairbridge Teesside (2006-10). With Tanya Garland, he founded Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation in 2011 and has been instrumental in bringing together around 40 local businesses and individuals as patrons and supporters, raising more than £2.6 million in the charity’s first five years.
In 2014 Andy launched a new charity: CEO Sleepout. With Andy as its driving force, CEO Sleepout has become a national phenomenon, raising £1.4m to fight homelessness and poverty. He also recently chaired Tees Valley Education, a local multi-academy trust.
In late 2016 Andy led CEO Sleepout to launch not-for-profit restaurant, The Fork In The Road. The venture has been a huge success, winning acclaim for its food and its partnerships with local prisons and colleges, helping to get people into employment and training.