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 Kent based Director operating in the Consumer 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.
Nick Rooke
Senior Director, Head of Global Partner Operations of Sony
Nick Rooke is the Senior Director, Head of Global Partner Operations at PlayStation
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About PlayStation, Sony: Sony develops and manufactures audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Adrian Phipps
Global SEO Director of GSK
Adrian is a highly experienced and transformational SEO professional with over 19 years hands-on experience. Starting his career with digital media agencies before progressing client side delivering digital and SEO solutions for the likes of Pfizer, BBC, Volvo, Eurotunnel, Saga and now GSK. Adrian’s most recent achievements have been to drive organic traffic for Saga from 300K sessions per month to over 1 million session per month in 18 months. Moreover, in the same time driving quick answer results from a standing start of 0 to now over 600.
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About GSK: GSK Venture Fund is a Massachusetts-based venture capital fund focused on investments within the area of bioelectronics.
John E Welsh, III
Board of Director of General Cable
Mr. Welsh is the President of Avalon Capital Partners LLC, an investment firm focused on private equity and public securities investments. From October 2000 to December 2002, he was a Managing Director of CIP Management LLC, the management company for Continuation Investments Group Inc. From November 1992 to December 1999, he served as Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of SkyTel Communications, Inc. (“SkyTel”) and as a Director of the company from September 1992 until December 1999. During that period, he served as Chief Financial Officer and President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Division. Prior to 1992, Mr. Welsh was a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Prudential Securities, Inc., and served as Co-Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department. Mr. Welsh has served as a director of various public companies, including Spreckels Industries, Inc., SkyTel, York International and Integrated Electrical Services (NASDAQ: IESC). He currently serves on the board of Liberty Broad Band (NASDAQ: LBRDA).
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About : General Cable develops, designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes copper, aluminum, and cable products.
Gregory Lawton
Board of Director of General Cable
Mr. Lawton has been a consultant since March 2006. From October 2000 to February 2006, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of JohnsonDiversey, Inc. From January 1999 until September 2000, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Johnson Wax Professional. Prior to joining Johnson Wax, Mr. Lawton was President of NuTone Inc., a subsidiary of Williams plc based in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1994 to 1998. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Lawton served with Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) where he was Vice President and General Manager of several consumer product groups. He is also a director of Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL).
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About : General Cable develops, designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes copper, aluminum, and cable products.
Heath Clarke
Board of Directors of Local Corporation
Heath Clarke is the Founder & Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Local Corporation. Heath joined the company as President and Chairman in March 1999 and has served as CEO since January 2001. From 1998 to 1999, Heath was Vice President of eCommerce for LanguageForce, Inc., a language translation software company. Prior to this he served as Marketing Manager for Starnet, a Canadian internet company. From 1995 to 1998, he was Special Projects Director for the Berg Group of Companies (Australia). From 1988 to 1995, he was founder and CEO of Australian Fibre Packaging. Heath is a frequent guest speaker at local search and online advertising industry events. Also a guest lecturer for online advertising at Pepperdine’s Executive MBA program, he was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He also won TechAmerica’s Innovator Award and was named Outstanding CEO at TechAmerica’s 2010 Annual Orange County High-Tech Innovation Awards. Heath co-chaired events on the global economy and counter-terrorism as a member of Young Presidents’ Organization, and is a Patron Councilor of the Atlantic Council, a Patron of the American Enterprise Institute, a President’s Club Member of the Heritage Foundation, a President’s Council Member of the Foundation for Economic Education, and a Member of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.
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About : Local Corporation is a national online media company offering technology plaforms that connect merchants with consumers.
Steve Noyes
Founder & Managing Director of Syncbox
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About Syncbox: Syncbox is the Worlds’ only universally adaptable, invisible wiring & hidden socket system.
Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
Director of FirstBuild
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About FirstBuild: FirstBuild are online & physical community.
Stuart Pearson
Managing Director of Sensible Lender
Stuart Pearson serves as Managing Director at Sensible Lender.
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About Sensible Lender: Sensible Lender is a lending business
Marcus Cooke
Director of Space Between
As Technology Director at Space Between, Marcus is responsible for coordinating the Biometric Research Team, who identify areas for improvement on eCommerce sites the use of CRO, UX and Biometrics. He has worked with some of the world’s leading eCommerce brands, including ASOS, Reiss, ghd and LEGOland, and includes partnerships with Adobe and Dot Digital. Marcus will be speaking about how he uses biometrics, along with traditional moderated user research methods, to quantify the UX impact of bad design decisions.
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About Space Between: Space Between are eCommerce Growth Specialists.
Alex Huntly
Design Director of Lunar Works
Design Director at Lunar Works. Bespoke Progressive Web App and Website Designer creating Tech For Good.
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About Lunar Works: A specialist digital design & development agency based in Kent, UK. High performance websites, apps and PWAs for businesses & startups.
Claire Brooks
Director of Drywall Aptitude
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About Drywall Aptitude: We develop software that can provide technologically advanced solutions for the construction industry.
