Dominic de Sousa (1959–2015)Al Bawaba, April 21, 2010 Winners Of Banker Middle East Product Awards 2010 Revealed was a media publisher in Dubai. He headed the CPI Group, a publishing company that was the umbrella organization of at least 25 magazines.
Background De Sousa was born in Kenya to Portuguese Goan parents. He moved to London around the age of eleven and he began his education there. His path took him through Biochemistry to music and retail. He later found work with Reed Business Publishing. Through that company, he came into contact with people who founded ITP, and with a couple of years of its founding he was employed there. Leaving ITP, he and a business partner founded CPI. With some help from two silent partners, he later bought out his partner and then at a later stage, he bought out his silent partners. He then had sole control of the company. In 2005 and at the age of 45, he had been in Dubai for fifteen years.Arabian Business, Sun 16 Oct 2005 - De Sousa: ‘I’m not eccentric; I’m just different’ By Iain Akerman He was described as larger-than-life, charismatic, a visionary and a dynamic character.The National, Nov 25, 2011 - Not your conventional boss - Ben Flanagan De Sousa was well known for singing at business events.BBC Good Food ME, January 2016 - Page 9 The daily newspaper, The National which is published in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates said that he will remain a legend in the region's publishing industry.The National, Dec 17, 2015 - Dominic De Sousa ‘will remain a legacy in the region’s publishing world’ Naser Al Remeithi
Career Prior to his involvement in media, he managed a Tandy Electronics shop. He also played guitar in a band called Black Velvet, a band that covered music such as Santana to pop and rock and performed on cruise ships and night clubs. According to De Sousa, the group was successful enough to consider forming its own record label, but the band's manager absconded with the group's money and used it to buy a house.The National, Nov 25, 2011 - Not your conventional boss - Ben FlanaganMediaSource, Thursday, 17 December 2015 - Dominic De Sousa: 1959-2015
In 1991, along with a friend Eileen Michael, he was involved in the founding the CPI Media Group,The National, Nov 25, 2011 - Not your conventional boss - Ben FlanaganCPI Media Group - About Us which would eventually be the publisher of 25 magazines.SatellitePro ME, Issue 47, January 2016 - Living My Legacy After some buying out and later maneuvering, he would eventually be the companies' sole owner.Arabian Business, Sun 16 Oct 2005 - De Sousa: ‘I’m not eccentric; I’m just different’ By Iain Akerman
In September 2015, proposed the idea of a new magazine, Goodbye, which was to focus on deceased celebrities. The project never came to fruition.The National, Nov 25, 2011 - Not your conventional boss - Ben FlanaganMediaSource, Thursday, 17 December 2015 - Dominic De Sousa: 1959-2015
De Sousa was involved in business events right up until his death in Dubai where he was hosting the BBC Good Food Awards in 2015.France Today, July 19, 2017 - Interview with the Chef: James Martin’s French Adventure - By Marion Sauvebois
Death De Sousa died at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray hotel on December 16, 2015, while hosting the BBC Good Food awards there.The National, Dec 17, 2015 - Dominic de Sousa ‘will remain a legacy in the region’s publishing world’ - Naser Al RemeithiThe Market Buzz - RIP Dominic Desousa He spoke to James Martin, the host of Saturday Kitchen, before he went on stage to introduce the BBC Good Food Award show and also perform what he loved best, singing. He sang the Beatles song ‘Hey Jude’ and dropped with a fatal heart attack.Hello!, February 02, 2017 - James Martin reveals personal life sacrifices as celebrity chef: 'It made relationships tough'Saturday Kitchen's James Martin has opened up about life as a celebrity chef - Sharnaz Shahid
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