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 VP’ operating in the Hardware space. If you think a VP’ 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.
Jim Veevaert
VP Product of ROLI
Jim Veevaert currently serves ROLI as vice president of product. For over 20 years, Jim has brought legendary gaming franchises to market including Halo 3, Half-Life, and Counter-Strike. He co-founded Jerry Bruckheimer’s games division, and was the founding GM for Zynga’s Seattle studio
Follow Jim Veevaert:
About ROLI: ROLI is a London-based music technology company that produces musical instruments and software products.
John Gilbert
GM & Regional VP of Sales of Yubico
Follow John Gilbert:
About Yubico: Yubico offers USB and wireless authentication solutions.
Tim Griffin
CEO / VP & GM Dell UK of Dell
Follow Tim Griffin:
About Dell: Dell transforms computing and provides high quality solutions that empower people to do more all over the world.
Mike Callow
VP Manufacturing of Kano
Mike Callow is the VP of manufacturing at Kano, a company that creates computer and coding kits for all ages.
Follow Mike Callow:
About Kano: Kano provides a system of kits and coding platform that enables users to develop apps, games, and music.
Gordon Thomson
VP, EMEAR Specialist Sales of Cisco
Follow Gordon Thomson:
About Cisco: Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other technology services and products.
Peter Williams
Executive Vice President, Ricoh Europe of Ricoh Company
Peter is a member of the Ricoh Europe Board, responsible for multiple lines of business including the Production Printing Business Group, Additive Manufacturing, Service and Annuity, Business Process Services and the European Technology Centre. In this role, Peter drives Ricoh Europe’s long-term strategy to become a leader in the production printing market. In 2009, he established the European Production Printing Business Group headquarters in London and launched Ricoh’s European Production Printing Innovation Centre. Peter’s current focus is building the Ricoh brand in the corporate and commercial printing markets, as well as developing the production printing sales and support infrastructure across all European operations. Peter is responsible for Ricoh’s Additive Manufacturing strategy in the EMEA region, the Business Process Services, and Service and Annuity lines of business, and the European Technology Centre, which brings customer-driven innovation to Ricoh both regionally and globally.
Follow Peter Williams:
About Ricoh Company: Ricoh is a global technology company provide office imaging equipment, document management systems and IT services.
Peter Williams
Executive Vice President, Ricoh Europe of Ricoh Company
Peter is a member of the Ricoh Europe Board, responsible for multiple lines of business including the Production Printing Business Group, Additive Manufacturing, Service and Annuity, Business Process Services and the European Technology Centre. In this role, Peter drives Ricoh Europe’s long-term strategy to become a leader in the production printing market. In 2009, he established the European Production Printing Business Group headquarters in London and launched Ricoh’s European Production Printing Innovation Centre. Peter’s current focus is building the Ricoh brand in the corporate and commercial printing markets, as well as developing the production printing sales and support infrastructure across all European operations. Peter is responsible for Ricoh’s Additive Manufacturing strategy in the EMEA region, the Business Process Services, and Service and Annuity lines of business, and the European Technology Centre, which brings customer-driven innovation to Ricoh both regionally and globally.
Follow Peter Williams:
About Ricoh Company: Ricoh is a global technology company provide office imaging equipment, document management systems and IT services.
Michelle Teufel
Vice President, Digital Technology of Arrow Electronics
Follow Michelle Teufel:
About Arrow Electronics: Arrow Electronics designs, manufactures and distributes electronic components for industrial and commercial sectors.
Fiona Nolan
Senior Vice President of Global Marketing of CommScope
Fiona Nolan is the Retail Design Manager at Unibail Rodamco Westfield.
Follow Fiona Nolan:
About CommScope, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: CommScope Enterprise Solutions, a division of CommScope, Inc., offers a complete portfolio of network infrastructure solutions that enable
Yvan De Boeck
VP of Engineering of Bevi
Follow Yvan De Boeck:
About Bevi: Bevi is a smart water dispenser that customizes flavored and sparkling beverages on demand.
Jakub Kamecki
VP Business Development and Partnerships of TG0
Experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in software and technology industries. Skilled in Sales, Partnerships and Alliances, Management, Strategic Leadership, and Product development. Holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University College Dublin Smurfit Business School.
Follow Jakub Kamecki:
About TG0: TG0 is an R&D start-up creating novel 3D controls.
David Bailey
Vice President, Global Merchandising of SmartThings
David Bailey, Vice President, Marketing Communications at SmartThings
Follow David Bailey:
About SmartThings: SmartThings, a smartphone app, allows its users to monitor and control their domestic affairs even when they are out of their home.
David Hargreaves
VP Software of DisplayLink
Follow David Hargreaves:
About DisplayLink: DisplayLink is a hardware and software company specializing in multi-monitor and zero client computing.
Richard Wiles
Vice President Sales of Trilliant
Follow Richard Wiles:
About Trilliant: Trilliant delivers intelligent networks that enable the energy industry’s transition to the smart grid.
Mikko Pyykko
Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Jolla
Follow Mikko Pyykko:
About Drone Space AI., Jolla, Third Space Auto: Jolla is an independent designer and developer for mobile devices and open Sailfish OS.
Richard Agnew
AVP EMEA North of ExaGrid Systems
Follow Richard Agnew:
About ExaGrid Systems: ExaGrid Systems offers disk-based data de-duplication backup solutions and systems for information technology companies.
Richard Agnew
AVP EMEA North of ExaGrid Systems
Follow Richard Agnew:
About ExaGrid Systems: ExaGrid Systems offers disk-based data de-duplication backup solutions and systems for information technology companies.
Saurabh Kedia
VP of Product Marketing of iYogi
Follow Saurabh Kedia:
About iYogi: iYogi provides online technical support services for a range of computing and communication devices.
Gary Osborne
VP Engineering of Pyreos
Gary joined Pyreos in 2015 and is responsible for product development and customer support. His career started in R&D at UK computer pioneers Apricot. At digital TV specialists Pace he was Engineering Manager and later moved to M&A, Product Management covering EMEA and Asia-Pac, and Business Development. He has also held senior roles with US tech giant EchoStar, being responsible for key innovative products in new markets.
Follow Gary Osborne:
About Pyreos: Pyreos develops and supplies a specialised infra-red sensor platform.
Dan Panesar
VP EMEA of Certes Networks
Dan has a real passion and love for sales and this is reflected by more than 12 very successful years in leading-edge technology sales. He started out in various new business sales roles before progressing into leadership with innovative cyber security start-up Sipera Systems. Sipera Systems was the first worldwide market leader in solutions for the rapid, simple and secure adoption of Unified Communications (UC). Many FTSE 100 organisations with thousands of users around the globe deployed Sipera to secure VoIP, IP video, collaboration, messaging and dozens of other high-performance applications. Backed by a number of high-profile VCs including partners Sequoia Capital, Dan recruited and led the EMEA high touch sales team, where he was responsible for driving direct customer engagement and all aspects of the sales strategy. Sipera Systems achieved huge success and in late 2011 was wholly acquired by Avaya Inc., one of the largest Unified Communications and Contact Center software vendors in the world, for a reported 11X multiple. At Avaya, Dan continued to lead the new Real Time Application and Identity Access Management security division for EMEA. Over the next 4 years Dan and his team delivered significant and consistent YoY double-digit revenue growth. After leaving Avaya at the end of 2015, Dan has been advising and working with a number of UK-based cyber security start-ups through the Cylon – Cyber London accelerator programme.
Follow Dan Panesar:
About Certes Networks: Certes Networks, Inc. provides security solutions for high performance networks for government agencies and federal organizations.
Mark Roberts
SVP Sales & Marketing of Miura Systems
Follow Mark Roberts:
About Charity Engine, Miura Systems: Miura Systems provides secure electronic payment hardware for the retail, hospitality, financial, government and healthcare markets.
Paul Imre
VP of Education – Data Science Speakers Club – D91 Toastmasters International of Toastmasters International
Follow Paul Imre:
About Toastmasters International: Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development.
Ian Wilson
VP Sales of Titan IC
Ian graduated with an Honours degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of London in 1991. For the last 15 years Ian worked in various account management, sales and business development roles in the high-end SOC and home networking semiconductor segment, within companies such as Conexant, NXP, Trident and Entropic.
Follow Ian Wilson:
About Titan IC: Titan IC is a supplier of hardware engines for content and network processing, for both low cost
