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 United Kingdom based CFO’ operating in the Retail space. If you think a CFO’ 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.
Stefan Hobl
CFO & Co-Founder of Butter.co.uk
Stefan Hobl joined Butter.co.uk as CFO & Co-Founder in 2017.
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About Butter.co.uk: Butter lets you spread the cost of shopping from any online store with a simple monthly instalment plan. Download the app now!
Sacha Jacobs
CFO of Fabacus
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About Fabacus, Reporo: Fabacus is a technology business that transforms brand licensing through the power of data.
John Gallemore
Chief Financial Officer of THG
Chief Financial Officer & Co-founder of The Hut Group. Chief executive Matthew Moulding and chief operating officer John Gallemore launched The Hut Group in 2004, both having previously worked for the mobile-phone retailer The Caudwell Group. They established the company to sell home-entertainment goods, using £500,000 of personal funds, and buying the domain name TheHut.com for £3,000.
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About THG, THG, THG Ingenuity: The Hut Group is an online retailing platform focused on fast moving consumer goods, specifically focused on health and beauty.
Elliot Jordan
Chief Financial Officer of Farfetch
As Chief Financial Officer, Elliot is responsible for the company’s financial operations including accounting; treasury and tax; and financial reporting and control, across all of Farfetch’s international offices. Elliot is part of the Executive Board. Elliot joined Farfetch with a wealth of financial experience at consumer online retailers including ASOS and Sainsbury’s. Prior to joining the retail industry, Elliot worked at Credit Suisse in London and KPMG in Auckland.
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About Farfetch: Farfetch is an online luxury fashion retail platform.
Ngoc Chu
Chief Financial Officer of Zapp
Ngoc Chu is the Chief Financial Officer at Zapp.
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About Zapp: Zapp is a grocery-delivery startup that provides on-demand delivery services 24/7.
Duncan Tatton-Brown
CFO of Ocado Group
Duncan became a Director of Zoopla Property Group in 2014. He is currently CFO of Ocado Group plc which he joined in 2012. Previously, Duncan was CFO of Fitness First plc and prior to that was Group Finance Director of Kingfisher plc, one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers. He has held senior finance positions at B&Q plc, Virgin Entertainment Group and Burton Group plc and was also a non-executive director of Rentokil Initial plc. Duncan holds a master’s degree in Engineering from King’s College, Cambridge and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
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About Ocado Group, PrimeLocation.com, The Digital Property Group: Ocado is an online grocery retailer providing services, technology, and automation to grocery e-commerce businesses around the world.
Andrew Coleman
Chief Financial Officer of HomeBase
Andy Coleman is Chief Financial Officer at Homebase .
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About HomeBase: HomeBase is a home improvement and garden retailer.
Alex Jablonowski
Group CFO of Hamleys PLC
Alex Jablonowski serves as group CFO at Hamleys Group.
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About Hamleys PLC: Hamleys offers toys and products of all kinds for kids, bringing magical experiences.
Iain MacLaren
Chief Financial Officer of ZigZag Global
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About ZigZag Global: ZigZag Global is a software platform that helps retailers manage their returns globally.
Alisdair Cameron
CFO of The Post Office
Alisdair became the Chief Financial Officer of Post Office in January 2015. He is also a non-executive on the Board of Oxford University Hospitals. From 2002-14 Alisdair worked in a variety of roles for Centrica plc, a FTSE 100 company, including Director of Audit & Risk, Group Financial Controller, Finance Director of British Gas and Managing Director of British Gas Enterprise. Previously he was a partner with Arthur Andersen and served as a trustee of the e-Learning Foundation.
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About The Post Office: Post Office is a retail post office company that provides a wide range of products, including postage stamps and banking to the public.
Neville Evans
Chief Financial Officer of Lumene
Neville Evans is the chief financial officer at Lumene. He is also a chief financial officer at Langholm Capital LLP.
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About Lumene: Lumene is a Finnish manufacturer of cosmetics.
Tim Perks
CFO of cloud.IQ
Tim joined NewVoiceMedia as CFO in Dec 2010. He has a wealth of experience in CFO roles in the technology sector, taking Baltimore Technologies from a fledgling AIM Company to a FTSE 100 company in 3 years, delivering a $200M trade sale at Staffware Plc (a BPM software company) and as CFO of Redstone Telecom plc, a network-based provider of ICT solutions and end-to-end managed services.
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About cloud.IQ: cloud.IQ is an AI and machine learning based automated conversion rate optimisation platform for e-commerce businesses.
Michael Williams
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Glory Global Solutions
CFO since May 2014 and COO since April 2018, Michael is responsible for the company’s Finance, Supply Chain and IS functions. He joined Glory Global Solutions from Hitachi, where he was most recently European Finance Director. Michael’s extensive experience has included consistent delivery of growth and profitability in established global businesses as well as that of large-scale projects such as mergers, acquisitions and divestments. ‘Big Four’ accountancy firm qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Michael has led technical accounting conversion projects, process efficiency drives and IT implementations. He has also been instrumental in developing and bringing to market start-up solution businesses. He has experience across a range of sectors including retail, rail, manufacturing, leasing and motor.
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About Glory Global Solutions: Glory Global Solutions is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of money handling machines and systems.
Carl Plucknett
Chief Financial Officer of Zonal Retail Data Systems
Responsible for Finance and Human Resources, Carl is a Chartered Accountant and has held senior posts at Unipart International, RedSky IT and Micros Retail UK. He was Chief Financial Officer at ZBD Displays from 2008 to 2012 and subsequently at Intrinsic Technology, has been in his current post since January 2014. Married with three children, Carl enjoys swimming, cycling and supporting Tigers and Foxes, that’s Leicester’s rugby union and Leicester City FC.
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About Zonal Retail Data Systems: Zone Retail Data Systems provides technology solutions to the bar, restaurant, retail, hotel, and leisure industry.
Steve Dando
CFO of Punch Taverns
Steve Dando was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer in August 2015. He joined Punch in 2003 as Chief Accountant and was promoted to Group Financial Controller in 2009 and Finance Director in July 2011. During his time with Punch, Steve has played a major role in the development of the group. He has a wealth of experience, previously holding a number of senior finance roles with Courtaulds plc. Steve is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and started his career at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Steve is also a Non-Executive Director of Bromford Housing Group.
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About Punch Taverns: Punch Taverns is one of the UK’s largest leased pub companies, with a portfolio of more than 3,300 pubs nationwide.
Richard Parker
CFO of StreetDots
Richard has extensive board-level experience in Healthcare Operations Management. He has worked as both Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director in a number of Acute NHS Hospitals and has over 20 years’ experience at a senior level in the NHS, having held positions in a range of acute NHS and private sector organisations including Executive Director of operations at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Associate Director of Operations at Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Richard also managed and implemented the emergency care recovery programme at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
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About Parker Health, RwHealth, StreetDots: StreetDots creates smart street-trading platform.
Hannah Lowry
Chief Financial Officer of Ecrebo
Hannah joined Ecrebo in July 2017 and brings proven experience in driving business performance and robust financial management for multinational companies in Europe and the Middle East. In her role as CFO, Hannah is responsible for all financial matters for Ecrebo and as part of the senior leadership team, will help set and implement the strategic direction of the company. Hannah previously served as finance director for the data and analytics business at Aimia, as well as tenures with GE Capital in Dubai, and Barclays in London.
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About Ecrebo: Ecrebo is a point of sale marketing platform.
Mark Higgins
Chief Financial Officer of AO World
Mark Higgins is a Chief Financial Officer at ao.com.
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About AO World: AO World is a online retailer company.
Rebecca Scott
Chief Financial Officer of Feelunique.com
Rebecca Scott is the Chief Financial Officer at Feelunique.com.
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About Feelunique.com: Feelunique.com is an online e-commerce platform that offers beauty products and related advice.
Richard Varney
CFO of Documobi
Richard is a commercially minded and pragmatic Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience of operating at a senior level in a variety of different business sectors both in the UK and overseas. During his career, Richard spent over 20 years working as a commercially biased FD for several large groups in the print industry including St Ives plc and RR Donnelley Global Document Solutions.
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About Documobi: Documobi is a mobile solution that enables businesses to conduct personalized advertising campaigns.
Richard Varney
CFO of Documobi
Richard is a commercially minded and pragmatic Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience of operating at a senior level in a variety of different business sectors both in the UK and overseas. During his career, Richard spent over 20 years working as a commercially biased FD for several large groups in the print industry including St Ives plc and RR Donnelley Global Document Solutions.
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About Documobi: Documobi is a mobile solution that enables businesses to conduct personalized advertising campaigns.
Ben Fletcher
Group Chief Financial Officer of The Very Group
Ben Fletcher is the Group Chief Financial Officer at The Very Group.
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About The Very Group: The Very Group is an integrated digital retailer and financial services provider.
Tim Parfitt
CFO of eve Sleep
Tim Parfitt is the CFO at eve sleep.
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About eve Sleep: eve Sleep is a pioneer of luxury sleep solutions, promising the perfect start to every day thanks to a guaranteed great night’s sleep.
Robbie Bell
Chief Financial Officer of Holland & Barrett
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About Holland & Barrett, McColl’s Retail Group, Ultimate Products: Holland & Barrett is a chain of health food shops with over 1,300 stores in 16 countries.
Paul Meehan
CFO of Victorian Plumbing
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About Victorian Plumbing: Beautiful bathrooms without splashing out. Leading online retailer of designer bathrooms.
Kris Lee
CFO of Card Factory Plc
Kristian Lee is the CFO of Card Factory.
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About Card Factory Plc: Card Factory Plc is a specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressing and gifts.
Ian Williams
CFO of The Original Factory Shop
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About The Original Factory Shop: The Original Factory Shop is a value retailer with an offering equivalent to a mini department store.
Richard Rust
Chief Financial Officer of Vision Direct
Richard Rust is the Chief Financial Officer at VisionDirect.
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About Vision Direct: Vision Direct provides contact lenses, contact lens solutions, and eye care products online.
Phil Rock
Group Chief Financial Officer of Global Risk Partners
Phil Rock is the group chief financial officer at Global Risk Partners.
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About Global Risk Partners: Global Risk Partners is an investment vehicle aimed at insurance brokers and managing general agents trading in the UK retail and global.
Mark Johnson
CFO & Advisor of SBOODLE
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About SBOODLE: Merchandising for Content Creators
Adam Simon
Global Managing Director & CFO of CONTEXT
Adam joined CONTEXT in February 2013 to develop the company’s research coverage of ICT and technology. Adam is growing the CONTEXT panel of ICT retailers across Europe and, using the panel data, brings fresh thinking for exploiting new market opportunities. In June 2015 he formed a pan-European Smart Home Research Group including Smart Home Associations, retailers and manufacturers and also pioneered research into the opportunities for retailers selling technology to small businesses (“R2B”). In May 2016 he formed a specialist research group on Virtual Reality. In September 2015 he launched the 1st CONTEXT Smart Home Survey which compares consumer attitudes to Smart Home across UK, France and Germany. In January 2016 he launched the 2nd survey covering in addition Spain and Italy. These surveys have become established as an authoritative source of information and understanding of the emerging smart home market. He is the organiser and speaker at a number of conferences and summits – he chairs the CONTEXT Smart Channels Summit which takes place at DISTREE EMEA in Monaco and APAC in Singapore, the Melco Forum in Valencia and the CONTEXT Retail CEO breakfasts at IFA and CES. In these events he brings together CONTEXT technology vendors, distributors, retailers and other partners around topical issues. He is a Director of the Smart Homes & Building Association (based in the UK) and member of the Fédération Française de Domotique (French Smart Home Association) and the German based Smart Home initiative. Prior to joining CONTEXT, Adam spent his career in professional services, introducing operational best practices in large retailers across multiple market sectors. He has worked with many of the largest retailers in Europe at senior executive level. Adam is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having spent 10 years working at KPMG, and has a degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford. He is married with 2 daughters and a son.
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About CONTEXT: Leading the company’s efforts to offer its customers unrivalled research coverage of the IT channel landscape in Europe.
Adam Simon
Global Managing Director & CFO of CONTEXT
Adam joined CONTEXT in February 2013 to develop the company’s research coverage of ICT and technology. Adam is growing the CONTEXT panel of ICT retailers across Europe and, using the panel data, brings fresh thinking for exploiting new market opportunities. In June 2015 he formed a pan-European Smart Home Research Group including Smart Home Associations, retailers and manufacturers and also pioneered research into the opportunities for retailers selling technology to small businesses (“R2B”). In May 2016 he formed a specialist research group on Virtual Reality. In September 2015 he launched the 1st CONTEXT Smart Home Survey which compares consumer attitudes to Smart Home across UK, France and Germany. In January 2016 he launched the 2nd survey covering in addition Spain and Italy. These surveys have become established as an authoritative source of information and understanding of the emerging smart home market. He is the organiser and speaker at a number of conferences and summits – he chairs the CONTEXT Smart Channels Summit which takes place at DISTREE EMEA in Monaco and APAC in Singapore, the Melco Forum in Valencia and the CONTEXT Retail CEO breakfasts at IFA and CES. In these events he brings together CONTEXT technology vendors, distributors, retailers and other partners around topical issues. He is a Director of the Smart Homes & Building Association (based in the UK) and member of the Fédération Française de Domotique (French Smart Home Association) and the German based Smart Home initiative. Prior to joining CONTEXT, Adam spent his career in professional services, introducing operational best practices in large retailers across multiple market sectors. He has worked with many of the largest retailers in Europe at senior executive level. Adam is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having spent 10 years working at KPMG, and has a degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford. He is married with 2 daughters and a son.
Follow Adam Simon:
About CONTEXT: Leading the company’s efforts to offer its customers unrivalled research coverage of the IT channel landscape in Europe.
