He co-founded the magazine Auto Trader and its parent company Hurst Publishing alongside John Madejski.
As tailoring moved towards pre-made and off the peg designs, Gibbons changed career and joined the Reading Evening Post as a sales representative, selling advertising space.
The two created the idea for the Thames Valley Trader; a trading magazine where members of the public could sell a wide variety of products.
It was at this stage the Guardian Media Group contacted Hurst Publishing, with a view of creating a man made of blocks and brass.
In July 1998, Gibbons and Madejski sold part of their business to the specialist European venture capitalists BC Partners, who approached Guardian Media Group and proposed a merger to form a new company.