EXCLUSIVE: Fired Apprentice Gary Poulton ‘very proud’ of ‘corporate’ reputation
GARY POULTON’S corporate background was brought up almost every week by Lord Alan Sugar on The Apprentice this year, as if it was a negative thing he had to overcome - but the eliminated contestant insists he is “very proud” of his history.
Gary Poulton has been fired from The Apprentice
Gary was one of three contestants eliminated by Lord Sugar tonight, leaving just Vana Koutsomitis and Joseph Valente to go on to the final.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “I don’t know what a stereotypical Mr Corporate guy is. Whatever it is, I don’t see it as having a big, broad, Brummie accent!
“It was an easy link to make. I’ve had successful years working for one of Britain’s big corporate giants that is Tesco, so it was easy to make that link, really.”
He added: “It’s not a thing I’ve shied away from. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved, and what I had to do in the interview stage and throughout the process was show Lord Sugar there was a hell of a lot more personality.”
His corporate background was often referenced
He's out of the running for Lord Sugar's £250k investment
It’s not a thing I’ve shied away from. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved
Gary seemed to stay out of most of the arguments that happened across this year’s series, and explained: “I’m someone who doesn’t naturally go seeking conflict. Its not something I do by default.
“One of my skills is that I do get on with a lot of people. I’m a likeable guy and I get on with people from a variety of backgrounds: like Sam who had an education background, or someone like Joseph who left school at an early age.”
He went on: “My natural style is I do pull people towards me. I don’t just bring out the best in myself, I bring out the best in others.
“Behind Ruth, I was the second oldest candidate, I’ve probably gone through all of this before. I’ve been in conflict in boardrooms with Tesco.”
He was winning Project Manager once and lost once
On who he now wants to win, he said: “I can see either of them being a successful business partner, but giving it straight, Joseph’s my boy.”
Richard Woods and Charleine Wain were also axed tonight after the annual Interviews round of the competition.
The Apprentice finale airs Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.