Jim Eastwood

Last updated

Charles James Eastwood is a Northern Irish businessman and formerly one of the final four contestants in the seventh series of The Apprentice . He was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and is a graduate of the University of Ulster [1] and the University of North Carolina. [2] During his time on The Apprentice, he gained the nickname "Jedi Jim" due to his persuasive abilities and use of mind games. [3] Eastwood is also a former all-Ireland cycling champion. [4]

Contents

The Apprentice

In 2011, Eastwood appeared on the seventh series of The Apprentice. He started out well, shining individually despite being on the losing team for three of the first four tasks. [5] He came to prominence on the show after persuading his team leader Leon Doyle to select a different person to bring back into the boardroom after he had already decided Jim would be one of the two candidates. [2] Eastwood then drifted for the next few tasks, only just avoiding being fired in week 5 after a poor product naming decision. [6] From then on, he was branded "evil" and was branded by Lord Sugar's aide at the time Nick Hewer as "spooky" [7] because of his apparent decision to use his abilities of persuasion more aggressively, having another narrow escape in week 7 as project manager, when his mistake in negotiation over advertising space in the Hip Replacement magazine cost the team victory. [8]

However, Eastwood had a return to form in week 9, when he not only designed a well-received luxury biscuit called Special Stars, but also helped secure the biggest victory ever seen in the UK version of The Apprentice, by delivering a pitch to Asda that persuaded them to place an order of 800,000 units. Eastwood once again shone in the reinvestment task with huge sales of umbrellas, although his performance, and that of Susan Ma, was overshadowed by the bizarre decisions of his project manager Natasha Scribbins, who failed to understand the point of the task and refused to reinvest on the second day in any substantial quantity. Eastwood reached the final despite a second disastrous loss as project manager, in which Venture's concept for a Mexican restaurant lost in every single category to Logic, made worse by the failure to produce any financial plan for the pitch. Jim's survival was mostly a result of Natasha taking a total backseat on the task, despite possessing a degree in hospitality, but he was nonetheless tipped for victory by previous candidates.[ citation needed ] Though he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Salesman" by Lord Sugar, he failed to win [6] as the interviewers considered his business plan an attempt to ingratiate himself with Lord Sugar. [9]

After The Apprentice

After The Apprentice, Eastwood set up his own business as a public speaker. [10] His nickname has also been featured on a t-shirt, one of which was given by Eastwood to host Dara Ó Briain on The Apprentice: You're Fired! . [11]

He was hired as the Regional Vice President of Groupon Ltd for the UK and Ireland in November 2011. [12] Since March 2017, he serves as the Global Sales Director for Travel Counsellors Ltd. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Unionist Party</span> Political party in Northern Ireland

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it led unionist opposition to the Irish Home Rule movement. Following the partition of Ireland, it was the governing party of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. It was supported by most unionist voters throughout the conflict known as the Troubles, during which time it was often referred to as the Official Unionist Party (OUP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Volunteer Force</span> Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation formed in 1965

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group based in Northern Ireland. Formed in 1965, it first emerged in 1966. Its first leader was Gusty Spence, a former British Army soldier from Northern Ireland. The group undertook an armed campaign of almost thirty years during The Troubles. It declared a ceasefire in 1994 and officially ended its campaign in 2007, although some of its members have continued to engage in violence and criminal activities. The group is a proscribed organisation and is on the terrorist organisation list of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Dodds</span> Northern Ireland politician

Nigel Alexander Dodds, Baron Dodds of Duncairn,, is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister, serving as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the House of Lords since 2021, and was previously deputy leader of the DUP from 2008 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie</span> British shipbuilder and businessman


William James Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie, KP, PC, PC (Ire) was a leading British shipbuilder and businessman. He was chairman of Harland & Wolff, shipbuilders, between 1895 and 1924, and also served as Lord Mayor of Belfast between 1896 and 1898. He was ennobled as Baron Pirrie in 1906, appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick in 1908 and made Viscount Pirrie in 1921. In the months leading up to the 1912 Sinking of the Titanic, Lord Pirrie was questioned about the number of life boats aboard the Olympic-class ocean liners. He responded that the great ships were unsinkable and the rafts were to save others. This would haunt him forever. In Belfast he was, on other grounds, already a controversial figure: a Protestant employer associated as a leading Liberal with a policy of Home Rule for Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holywood, County Down</span> Human settlement in Northern Ireland

Holywood is a town in the metropolitan area of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland of 306 hectares lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alasdair McDonnell</span> Irish politician (born 1949)

Dr Alasdair McDonnell is an Irish politician who is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and was its leader from 2011 to 2015. He was the Member of Parliament for Belfast South from 2005 to 2017 and also a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland for Belfast South from 1998 to 2015. He graduated from medical school at University College Dublin in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Wilson (politician)</span> Northern Irish DUP politician

Samuel Wilson is a Northern Irish politician who was Chief Whip of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the House of Commons from 2019 to 2024. Wilson has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Antrim since 2005. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast East from 1998 to 2003 and for East Antrim from 2003 until 2015. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 1986 to 1987 and again from 2000 to 2001, the first person from the DUP to hold the office. He has also served as Minister of Finance and Personnel and Minister of the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British TV series) British reality television series

The Apprentice is a British business-styled reality game show created by Mark Burnett, distributed by Fremantle and broadcast by the BBC since 16 February 2005. Devised after the success of the American original and part of the international franchise of the same name, the programme focuses on a group of businesspeople competing in a series of business-related challenges set by British business magnate Alan Sugar, in order to prove themselves worthy of a prize offered by him. To observe candidates as they undertake these tasks, Sugar is aided by two close business associates who act as observers with little involvement in what is conducted – these roles are currently performed by Karren Brady and Tim Campbell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Gray (UDA member)</span> Northern Irish loyalist (1958–2005)

James Gray, known as Jim Gray, was a Northern Irish loyalist and the East Belfast brigadier of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the largest Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland. He was often nicknamed "Doris Day" for his flamboyant clothing, jewellery, and dyed blond hair. Another media nickname for Gray was the "Brigadier of Bling". He was the owner of several bars in East Belfast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Shannon</span> British politician

Richard James Shannon is a Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician. He has sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom since 2010 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Strangford and is the DUP's Health Spokesperson. He had previously sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 to 2010 as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland (MLA) for Strangford. He is an advocate for Leave Means Leave, a pro-Brexit campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Hay, Baron Hay of Ballyore</span> Northern Ireland politician (born 1950)

William Alexander Hay, Baron Hay of Ballyore, is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Foyle from 1998 to 2014.

Ian McCrea is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland, representing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He was elected in 2007 as a Northern Ireland Assembly member for Mid Ulster, and lost his seat in the 2016 Assembly election.

Margaret Rose Mountford is a Northern Irish lawyer, businesswoman, academic and television personality best known for her role in The Apprentice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Hewer</span> English television presenter and former public relations consultant

Nicholas Radbourn Hewer is a retired English television presenter, company director (2010) and former public relations consultant. From 2005 to 2014, he appeared as Alan Sugar's adviser in the British television series The Apprentice. From 2012 to 2021, he presented the Channel 4 programme Countdown with Rachel Riley and Susie Dent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traditional Unionist Voice</span> Political party in Northern Ireland

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. In common with all other Northern Irish unionist parties, the TUV's political programme has as its sine qua non the preservation of Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. A founding precept of the party is that "nothing which is morally wrong can be politically right".

Young Apprentice is a British reality television programme and a spin off of The Apprentice, in which a group of young people compete against each other in a series of business related challenges to win a £25,000 investment from British business magnate Lord Sugar. In addition to Sugar, he was also joined by his adviser Nick Hewer, and new adviser Karren Brady, prior to her debut on the main show, upon Margaret Mountford's departure from the role in 2009.

Claude Littner is an American-born British business executive and the former chairman of Viglen, Powerleague, ASCO and Azzuri Communications. He is also the deputy chairman of Blacks Leisure and former chief executive of Tottenham Hotspur. He is also known from his appearances on the British version of The Apprentice, interviewing for his former boss Alan Sugar. Littner was one of Sugar's aides between 2015 and 2019.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British series 10) Tenth season of UK television series

The tenth series of British reality television series The Apprentice (UK) was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 14 October to 21 December 2014; due to live coverage in Summer of that year for both the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the BBC postponed the series' broadcast until Autumn to avoid clashing with these. It is the last series to feature Nick Hewer as Alan Sugar's aide, who left the programme following the series finale, with the tenth series featuring a guest appearance from Ricky Martin, winner of the eighth series, as an interviewer for the Interviews Stage for this series only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Totton</span> Northern Irish practising physician, entrepreneur and former model

Leah Totton is a Northern Irish practising physician, entrepreneur and former model who won the 2013 series of BBC One's The Apprentice. Her business plan, a cosmetic clinic chain, named Dr Leah Clinics, co-owned with Alan Sugar, launched in 2014. Their business was a success; with their London clinic winning national awards. Dr Leah Clinics expanded to open further branches in London and Essex & the pair have also launched Dr Leah skincare products. Dr Leah received media attention for her glamorous appearance, her success on the show, the success of her resulting business and for advocacy of improved ethics and integrity in the cosmetic treatment industry. Despite the success of her business she remained committed to NHS and returned to work part-time as a GP in 2017.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British series 11) Eleventh season of UK television series

The eleventh series of British reality television series The Apprentice (UK) was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 14 October to 20 December 2015; due to the 2015 General Election being held in Spring, which Alan Sugar had ties to, the BBC postponed the series' broadcast until the middle of Autumn. This series saw Claude Littner, an interviewer during the Interviews stage of a series, being announced as Lord Sugar's new aide, after Nick Hewer made his departure from the programme after the last series. Alongside the standard twelve episodes, with the first two aired within a day of each other, the series was preceded by the mini online episode "Meet the Candidates" on 6 October, with two specials aired alongside the series – "The Final Five" on 9 December, and "Why I Fired Them" on 16 December.

References

  1. ↑ "Apprentice Jim: I'm still the world's best salesman". Belfast Telegraph. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Apprentice Jim Eastwood has been called all sorts of things, but tomorrow will they call him a winner?". Belfast Telegraph. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "The Apprentice final: Margaret Mountford grills 'Jedi' Jim Eastwood". Metro.co.uk. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "NI Apprentice Jim Eastwood competes for Lord Sugar job". BBC News. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Has Apprentice Jedi Jim Eastwood lost the force?". Belfast Telegraph. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Apprentice finalist Jim Eastwood proud of 'Jedi' nickname". Metro.co.uk. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Nick Hewer slams The Apprentice's 'manipulative' Jim Eastwood". Metro. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "'Sinister' and 'evil' ...our Jim is man they love to hate on The Apprentice". Belfast Telegraph. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Jim Eastwood". The Apprentice. BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Jim Eastwood Public Speaker". Jim Eastwood. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Omagh firm's Jedi Jim t-shirt features on The Apprentice". Ulster Herald. North-West News Group. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  12. ↑ Jim, Eastwood (30 November 2017). "Jim Eastwood LinkedIn Page".
  13. ↑ "Travel Counsellors appoints Jim Eastwood as Global Sales Director". Travel Counsellors Ltd. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.