Best Startup
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 Cheshire based Director operating in the Security 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.
Kate Wood
Director of Culture of Chess ICT
Kate Wood is passionate and determined that everyone will maximise their potential in the workplace through the powerful blend of culture and technology. Harnessing what has worked in her role as Culture Director for Chess, where she galvanised the 120 million pound turnover Microsoft Partner to go from 63rd to 1st in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work for in the UK and retain their place in the list for 10 years. Kate now works full time on “engage” – an employee engagement tool with a difference. Based on what works to improve the performance of people, while ensuring all employees feel valued and cared for, engage was born. Built on Microsoft Technology providing intelligent insight that drives results and informs decisions related to strategy and people. Continually driving the Women in Technology agenda and a keen member of WIT Network UK and a WIT North lead Kate sits on the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partner Board and the Women of the Channel advisory board and is an enthusiastic and entertaining public speaker.
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About Chess ICT: Chess ICT provide services including product supply and installation, storage, hosted and cloud solutions.
Mark Lightfoot
Financial Director & Chief Financial Officer of Chess ICT
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About Chess ICT: Chess ICT provide services including product supply and installation, storage, hosted and cloud solutions.
Richard Btesh
Director of Chess ICT
Richard is a prolific dealmaker with a record of more than 200 transactions (M&A, IPOs, JVs including cross border) as “corporate advisor” and , within industry as Chairman and Director of private and listed companies. With a highly entrepreneurial approach, Richard has been instrumental in formulating Chess’ strategy for growth in turnover from £4m to £75m over the past 10 years as a result of bank-supported acquisition activity. In 2013 Richard raced 1026 miles from Newbury to Budapest as part of the Gamma Ball Rally – under the condition that the racing vehicle was worth less than £500- playing his part in the wider community supporting The East Cheshire Hospice. When not busy delivering strategic growth for Chess , Richard spends time enjoying his passion for Modern British Art, skiing and tennis.
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About Chess ICT: Chess ICT provide services including product supply and installation, storage, hosted and cloud solutions.
Matthew Hickey
Co-Founder and Director of Hacker House
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About Hacker House: Hacker House provides offensive security solutions to the information security industries.
Kevan Davey
Non Executive Director of Mitigate Cyber
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About Mitigate Cyber: Mitigate Cyber offers a range of cybersecurity solutions ranging from threat mitigation to testing, training, and more.
Richard Bailey
CTO/Development Director of Boldon James Ltd
Joining Boldon James in 1987 as a Software Developer Richard learnt the business from the ground up. A veteran in Software engineering, Richard drives product strategy and delivery of our Microsoft based messaging and data classification ranges.
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About Boldon James Ltd: Boldon James is a leader in data classification and secure messaging solutions.
