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 Travel 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.
David Bernstein
Chief Financial Officer Carnival Corporation & plc of Carnival Cruise Line
In July 2007, David Bernstein was promoted to chief financial officer for Carnival Corporation & plc. In this capacity, Bernstein oversees all finance, accounting, treasury, insurance, tax and investor relations functions. Bernstein joined the Corporate organization as vice president and treasurer in July 2003 after serving as chief financial officer of the company’s Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line operating unit for five years. Prior to joining Carnival Corporation & plc, he spent seven years at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. where he held various financial posts, including assistant treasurer, assistant controller and director of corporate planning. Bernstein received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1983.
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About Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line offers an online platform that enables travelers to plan and book cruise tours from a range of packages.
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!
Liliana Solomon
Group Chief Financial Officer of Awaze
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About Awaze: Awaze provides offers vacation rentals and holiday resort services.
Steve Gunning
Chief Financial Officer of International Airlines Group (IAG)
Steve Gunning has been serving as Chief Financial Officer at International Airlines Group since June 2019.
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About International Airlines Group (IAG): International Airlines Group allows airlines to expand their global presence and keep individual brands.
Prakash Shah
CFO of Trafi
CFO – An entrepreneurial ACA/CFA trained management professional, with strong analytical and strategic planning capability. I am experienced in financial management, strategy and fundraising. I am currently the owner and CEO of Fully Financial Ltd (www.fullyfinancial.com), co-owner and CFO/COO of Fun-Keys4Kids (www.fun-keys4kids.com), and CFO of Trafi (www.trafi.com)
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About Pivigo, Trafi: Trafi is a mobility-as-a-service platform for shared transportation solutions, helping cities and corporates to reach their goals.
Matthew Holland
Chief Financial Officer of WeSwap
Over the last 10 years I have been working in the Retail industry across both Fashion and Luxury however the chance of joining a fast paced, high growth, tech company with a product I really believe in was one I couldn’t turn down. I’ve always been frustrated at the exorbitant fees charged when using my cards abroad or changing money, and I’ve also seen first-hand as a user how easy the WeSwap experience is and how beneficial this is to the customer. I really believe in the way the business is looking to disrupt the market and make currency exchange cheaper for the consumer so travellers can ‘stress less and travel happy.
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About WeSwap: WeSwap is a mobile application that allows users to swap different types of currency with others.
Matthew Holland
Chief Financial Officer of WeSwap
Over the last 10 years I have been working in the Retail industry across both Fashion and Luxury however the chance of joining a fast paced, high growth, tech company with a product I really believe in was one I couldn’t turn down. I’ve always been frustrated at the exorbitant fees charged when using my cards abroad or changing money, and I’ve also seen first-hand as a user how easy the WeSwap experience is and how beneficial this is to the customer. I really believe in the way the business is looking to disrupt the market and make currency exchange cheaper for the consumer so travellers can ‘stress less and travel happy.
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About WeSwap: WeSwap is a mobile application that allows users to swap different types of currency with others.
Andy Hohne
Chief Financial Office of Tristar Worldwide Chauffer Services
Andy is very well qualified to work in our transportation business – he’s done so much of it! Before joining Tristar in 2001, he was Commercial Manager for BMI for four years, and was Franchise Manager at Hertz UK prior to that. He is a qualified accountant with extensive experience within the airline industry, including over 13 years collective experience in the service industry. Andy understands that ours also is a service industry – our commitment to our customers is what makes us, globally, the ground transportation company of choice.
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About Tristar Worldwide Chauffer Services: Tristar Worldwide Chauffer Services is a worldwide chauffeur company operating in over 80 countries.
Tom Scrope
Chief Financial Officer of Reaction Engines
Tom is responsible for finance, investor relations, IT, cyber security and compliance related matters. Tom Scrope was appointed CFO of Reaction Engines early in 2014. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and since then has acquired over 20 years’ experience in finance. Most recently, he was Group Finance Director for Minit Group, a pan-European retail business with 1100 stores. having previously been at Carphone Warehouse, where he was divisional Finance Director for the UK retail business. After joining us Tom completed a £10m equity fund raise in June 2014. During 2015 he played an instrumental role in securing the £20.6 m BAE Systems equity investment and signing the £60M UK government’s grant commitment. BSc. (Dunelm), ACA, MBA (INSEAD).
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About Reaction Engines: Reaction Engines is next-generation aerospace propulsion developers, home of SABRE air-breathing rocket engine.
John Bavister
Co-Founder & CFO of Odyssey Airlines
John Bavister is the CFO at Odyssey Airlines.
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About Odyssey Airlines: Odyssey Airlines will begin offering premium non-stop business class services
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.
Francis Israeli
Group CFO of PassportCard
Francis assumes responsibility for developing PassportCard’s group finance to its expansion of real-time travel insurance offering across markets in Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. Francis has more than 20 years’ experience in International Finance, Compliance and Risk Management. In his previous roles, Francis was the Head of Operational Risk Management for the EMEA region for AIG Europe Limited; Chief Risk Officer, Compliance Officer and Financial Controller for AIG Israel.
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About PassportCard: PassportCard is a real-time travel insurance solution.
Tobi Simmel
COO/CFO of Jetsetter Jobs
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About Jetsetter Jobs: Jetsetter Jobs helps young travellers and professionals find their dream job abroad.
Tony Dowrick
Chief Financial Officer of Unique Home Stays
Tony Dowrick is the Chief Financial Officer at Unique Home Stays.
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About Unique Home Stays: Unique Home Stays is a leisure company that develops and innovates a unique portfolio of luxury private homestays.
