HE BROUGHT down a 233-year-old investment bank, wiped out the savings of investors across the world and left 1,200 colleagues without jobs.

The actions of then 27-year-old rogue stock market trader Nick Leeson, who hid a £830m black hole in the by-now infamous five eights account number, led to the collapse of Baring, which was England's oldest bank and proudly counted the Queen as one of its clients.

But, after his release from a Singapore jail in 1999, the country where his fall from grace unfolded, Leeson capitalised on his roller-coaster experiences.

Such notoriety has made Leeson hot property on the conference circuit - and now he's coming to Hampshire.

Leeson will join businesses across the region at the county's first B2B Conference and Exhibition at the Saints' stadium in Southampton on Tuesday, June 28.

HampshireB2B will assist businesses to access new markets both at home and in Europe by giving them the know-how of experience, market information, business support as well as an opportunity to showcase their products and services.

After the morning's conference, Leeson will address delegates over lunch on the stresses of being in business as well as telling them a little bit about his book Back from the Brink, It's due to be published on June 23.

Businesses across the region will have a chance to find out how, as well as get a better understanding of how they risk manage their market expansion domestically and in Europe.

The event is being organised by Lymington based Contact B2B, a Fry-Samuels company.

Director Stephen Fry said: "Businesses are often nervous about going into new markets but this conference and exhibition will give them the information they need to manage that risk in an informed, dynamic and competitive way.

"Like him or loathe him, Nick Leeson's experience is a testimony to managing risk and to surviving the consequences of it."

For more information on participating in Contact B2B, telephone Lena Samuels on 01590 671 446.