At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top Oxford based Director operating in the Social space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Christopher Spray
Director of Vidsy
Christopher Spray served as a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture L.P. Mr. Spray worked in the technology group of Atlas Venture and invested in software and services and Internet related businesses. Mr. Spray established firm’s Boston office in 1986 and was responsible for United States operations until 1998 when he moved to London office. Mr. Spray had moved to United States in 1985 as an Investment Director at CIN Investment Company. He started his venture capital career in 1983 with CINVen. Mr. Spray serves as Director of DoveBid, GoIndustry, Kalido, NTRglobal, Zinwave, picoChip, KDS, and MOO Print Ltd. He served as a Director at Kalido, Inc., Koodos, Corizon Ltd., and 3V Transaction Services Limited. He has been an investor and Board Member in number of successful companies, including OnDisplay and RightPoint Software. Mr. Spray also served on the Board of Business Objects from 1992 to 1994. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA in English Literature from Oxford University.
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About Vidsy: Vidsy is the creative technology engine powering mobile video ad creation for brands.
Howard Stringer
Non Executive Director of BBC
Howard served as Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation from June 2005 until June 2012 when he became Chairman of the Board of Directors, retiring in June 2013. Howard joined Sony in May 1997 and was named Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation of America in 1998, responsible for Sony’s entertainment companies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Music Publishing. Prior to joining Sony, Howard was President of CBS from 1988 to 1995, which became the first network to rise from last to first place in one season. From 1986 to 1988, Howard served as President of CBS News. He was executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather from 1981 to 1984, the dominant network evening newscast of its day. From 1976 to 1981, while he was executive producer of the CBS REPORTS, the documentary unit won more than 30 Emmys including nine individual awards. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Modern History from Oxford University. He also serves on the Board of Directors for TalkTalk and Time Inc., he is Chair of the School Board at Said Business School, Oxford University, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute and Chairman of Board of Advisors, Department of Opthalmology, Columbia University Medical Centre. Howard has also received Honorary Doctorates from Oxford University, the University of Glamorgan, the University of the Arts London, the American Film Institute and the University of Swansea. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and of Merton College, Oxford.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Shane Rooney
Executive Director of GSMA
Shane Rooney is an Executive Director at the GSMA on the IoT Programme. Bringing together strategies and synergies across the M2M verticals and the wider IoT ecosystems. Shane had previously led the GSMA’s initiative in developing mobile solutions in Smart Cities and collaborating with cities like Barcelona, Dubai and Shanghai. His team has developed a wider range of Smart City Indicators, Case Studies and Business Cases demonstrating the importance of mobile technology. His team also have developed enablers in IoT Security and embedded SIM. He has led the launch of Cellular LPWA Networks Technology ( NB-IOT & LTE-M) initiative globally and now promoting Cellular V2X technology. Previously he has been a Group Vice President with Etisalat , developing solutions for Energy, Security and Transport IoT solutions for Middle East, Africa and Asia. Before that he has worked with other Mobile Operators, Vodafone, Hutchison and 3 UK as well as launching and divesting of his own M2M company. Shane pioneered early telematics and connected car solutions for Ford Motor Company in the USA and Europe. He has extensive Global experience. He holds a PhD in Communications Systems specialising in Location Based Services and studied Business Marketing at IMD Switzerland.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of Oxfam International
Winnie Byanyima is Executive Director of Oxfam International. She is a leader on women’s rights, democratic governance and peace building. She served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament, and has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. She co-founded the 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance and chaired a UN task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. Born in Uganda, Ms. Byanyima was elected for three terms and served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament. She led Uganda’s first parliamentary women’s caucus, championing ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the county’s 1995 post-conflict constitution. A world recognized expert on women’s rights, she founded the still-thriving civil society organization Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). She has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. Ms. Byanyima is a signatory to her country’s 1985 peace agreement and has helped to broker and support women’s participation in peace processes in Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Sudan and other countries emerging from conflict. She co-founded a 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance of civil society, bilateral and multilateral organizations and chaired a UN-wide task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. She has served on numerous global boards and commissions including the African Capacity Building Foundation and the International Centre for Research on Women. She holds a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in Energy Conservation and the Environment (University of Cranfield), and a B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (University of Manchester). She began a five-year term leading Oxfam International on May 1 2013.
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About Oxfam International: Oxfam is a world-wide development organization that mobilizes the power of people against poverty.
Paul Fennemore
Social Media & Marketing Director of Titanium Fire
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About Oxford Brookes University, Titanium Fire: Salesforce implmentation consultancy
Emily Short
Creative Director of Failbetter Games
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About Failbetter Games: Choice-based interactive stories online
