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 President operating in the Industrial space. If you think a President 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.
Diana Kennedy
Vice President & Strategy, Architecture and Planning of BP
Diana has been with BP for over 7 years, firstly leading the Strategy and Architecture function for the Enterprise Systems group, and latterly for the Upstream Business. In addition, Diana led the Information and Big Data Agenda for the BP until February 2017 when she was appointed Vice President, Strategy, Architecture and Planning for BP. Prior to BP, Diana was Head of Architecture for British Gas, part of the Centrica group, where she led the solutions team for the retail transformation of British Gas. Diana started her career in consulting, firstly with Boston Consulting Group and subsequently PwC, where she held senior design and architecture roles, predominantly in the financial services and insurance sector. Diana holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a post-graduate degree in Computer Science and an MBA. She has three young children and enjoys competing for Great Britain in Masters Athletics in her spare time.
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About BP: BP delivers heat, light and mobility products and services to people all around the world.
Euan Davis
Associate Vice President of Cognizant
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About Cognizant: Cognizant is a professional services company, transforming clients’ business, operating and technology models for the digital era.
John Murphy
President & CEO – Europe, Middle East, India & Africa of WSP Global
John Murphy is President and CEO of WSP for Europe (including the UK), the Middle East, India, and Africa (EMEIA). John had joined Parsons Brinckerhoff in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer. John has more than 25 years of financial and senior management experience, including 14 years working with major engineering contractors and their domestic and international operations. Positions in this sector included serving as Executive Vice President and Finance Director for the Engineering & Consultancy Division of Kvaerner ASA in London, UK, and various roles in the US and Canada. John was CEO of Irving Transportation Services, with overall responsibility for the integrated transportation businesses of the Irving Group, one of the largest privately held conglomerates in Canada. John also served as the head of Irving Group’s Marine and Industrial Division. John received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mount Allison University in Canada and is a Canadian Chartered Accountant.
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About WSP Global: WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firm.
Roland Phelps
President and CEO of Galantas Gold Corporation
Roland Phelps graduated from Leeds University in 1976 and is a qualified Chartered Mining Engineer, Geologist and Registrant of the Engineering Council. He has worked in Canada in precious / base metal mining and major mining engineering projects. He has held senior mine management positions in the UK. He is a director and founder of Welsh Gold plc (a small mining company and prestige jewellery brand). He has other investment interests in property and construction.
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About Galantas Gold Corporation: Galantas Gold is a mining company that produces by-product gold, silver, and lead.
Kevin Wales
Executive Vice President – Geotechnical & Construction Services of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood
Kevin Wales, a civil engineer with more than 23 years of experience, launched GMC’s Geotechnical and Construction Services Division in 2004. As the Vice President of Geotechnical and Construction Services, he manages all marketing, administration and overall operations related to geotechnical and construction testing. Throughout his career, Kevin has developed key strengths in the design and installation of shallow and deep foundations, construction services and project management for education, commercial, governmental, distribution, industrial, manufacturing and transportation projects. In addition, he has served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Birmingham Chapter, and is a member of the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).
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About Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood: Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is a privately-held architecture and engineering firms.
Steven Alby
Vice President of Healthcare of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood
For more than 25 years, Steve has dedicated his career to mastering the art of healthcare design and planning. He has successfully led GMC’s Healthcare Division to its current standing as one of the nation’s top healthcare architecture/engineering firms according to the industry’s most reputable institutions. He believes that sound relationships and valuable experience are keys to success and has built his team accordingly. Steve’s forward-thinking allows him to anticipate upcoming design trends and adapt to the rapidly-evolving technology, medical practices and procedures, care delivery models and meticulous needs associated with the healthcare environment. An advocate for integrated project delivery, his expertise and familiarity with current standards enables him to utilize a highly-collaborative design approach that yields efficient, safe and functional spaces. Steve has personally managed award-winning and noteworthy projects, including the UAB Women and Infants Center in Birmingham, AL; Crisp Regional Hospital Intensive Care Unit Expansion in Cordele, GA; and the $17.9-million Bay Medical Center medical office building and parking structure in Panama City, FL. His professional and civic leadership, past and present, include the Greater North Fulton County Healthcare Committee; West Jefferson County Healthcare Coalition; Associated Builders and Contractors State Board of Directors; American Institute of Architects Alabama Council; AIA Birmingham, director and secretary; Gateway Board of Trustees; Altamont School Alumni Board; and Family and Child Services Junior Board, president. He led the healthcare studio for a well-known architecture firm prior to his position at GMC.
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About Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood: Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is a privately-held architecture and engineering firms.
Burt Hankins
Executive Vice President of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood
While his 40 years of experience boasts several impressive projects, Regional Vice President Burt Hankins says he’s most proud of the work he’s done to help rebuild the small town of Hackleburg, Ala., following the string of tornadoes that ripped through Marion County in April 2011. Hankins was instrumental in obtaining a $5 million grant, with no local match money required, to construct a sanitary sewer collection and treatment system in downtown Hackleburg that had to be built in order to restore the area. He secured an additional $1 million for street resurfacing and repair and to date, has helped the Town of Hackleburg acquire approximately $8 million in grant funding. In addition, Hankins worked on projects to rebuild city hall, the fire station, senior center and several auxiliary buildings. Whether working to restore a city, helping the local high school football and baseball teams prepare their fields for play, or volunteering at annual events like the Cullman County Water Festival and American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Hankins strives to give back to his community.
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About Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood: Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is a privately-held architecture and engineering firms.
Rajen Sheth
President of Pirum Systems
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About Pirum Systems: Pirum Systems providing advanced, centralised and secure reconciliation services for financial market participants.
Richard Parry-Jones
President of HSSMI
Richard Parry-Jones is the president of HSSMI.
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About HSSMI: HSSMI is an innovation institute for manufacturing that helps companies develop and take measures towards their strategic general goals.
Richard Parry-Jones
President of HSSMI
Richard Parry-Jones is the president of HSSMI.
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About HSSMI: HSSMI is an innovation institute for manufacturing that helps companies develop and take measures towards their strategic general goals.
