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 London based Director operating in the Retail 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.
Oliver Sloane
Director, Amazon Global Communities of Amazon
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About Amazon: Amazon is an e-commerce website for consumers, sellers, and content creators.
Alex Green
Managing Director, Amazon Video of Amazon
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About Amazon: Amazon is an e-commerce website for consumers, sellers, and content creators.
Lee Bernasconi
Director of Growth of Founders Factory
Leading the Founders Factory Growth team, Lee’s expertise in strategy, marketing, product and analytics help portfolio companies drive growth from launch through to traction and scale. Lee has previously held Senior Marketing positions at VC backed startups and international marketing agencies, also working as a business and marketing consultant for B2B & B2C companies in Mobile, FinTech, MarTech, AdTech, Property and eCommerce. With a background rooted in entrepreneurship, Lee founded a mobile ticketing startup in 2011 and a digital advertising platform for local businesses aged 19. He holds a BA (Hons) In Marketing & Management from Newcastle University.
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About Founders Factory: Founders Factory is a global corporate-backed venture studio and accelerator.
Carla Buzasi
Managing Director of WGSN.com
Carla Buzasi was the founding editor of The Huffington Post UK. During her time at the publication, she saw it grow to 24.4 million global unique users per month, and attract more than 10,000 bloggers, including the likes of David Beckham, Cherie Blair and HRH the Prince of Wales. She also held the role of Vice President and Global Editorial Director of Huffington Post Lifestyle. Carla was awarded the Media Innovator of the Year award in 2012 and has won Editor of the Year at the Online Media Awards for the past two years. She was also named as one of the top 50 female Innovators in Digital Journalism in 2013. In the summer of 2014 she left Huffington Post to take on the new role of Global Chief Content Officer at trends and intelligence company WGSN, leading an international team of journalists, trend forecasters and designers. In addition to her day job, she is a regular commentator on the media, appearing on Newsnight, The Andrew Marr Show, Daily Politics, Sky News and Lorraine.
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About WGSN.com: WGSN a B2B, world-wide information source for the design, textile and style industries.
Orhan Hasanov
Director of SwiftGift
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About GiftMagic, SwiftGift: SwiftGift is the world’s first Instant Gift Messenger App which allows you to send real gifts to anyone in your phone’s contact book.
Parminder Basran
Co-founder and Managing Director of Velos Partners
Parminder Basran is the Founder & Managing Partner at VGC Partners.
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About Iconic Images, Kick Game, Round World Entertainment, Twenty Ten Capital, Velos Partners, VGC Partners, WIT Fitness: Velos Partners is a consumer growth capital firm investing in retail innovation, health & wellness, and luxury & entertainment.
Galahad Clark
Founder & Managing Director of Vivobarefoot
Galahad Clark is the Founder and Managing Director of Vivobarefoot.
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About Terra Plana, Vivobarefoot: UK-based shoe brand and Crowdcube alum
George Livingston
Director of Data Infrastructure of Farfetch
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About Farfetch: Farfetch is an online luxury fashion retail platform.
Henry Graham
Creative Director & Co-Founder of Wolf & Badger
Henry Graham is Creative Director & Co-Founder @ Wolf & Badger.
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About Wolf & Badger: Wolf & Badger is a multi-channel retail platform for the finest independent, ethical and unique brands from around the globe.
Alistair Barclay
Director of YOPA
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About YOPA: YOPA provides real estate agency services that assist clients in selling their properties.
Tim Muir
Chief Operating Officer and Director Field Engagement of YOPA
Tim Muir is Chief Operating Officer and Product Director at YOPA. Prior to this, he was a freelance product management consultant. Tim bears a degree in Marketing.
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About YOPA: YOPA provides real estate agency services that assist clients in selling their properties.
Rhodri Evans
Brand Content Director – Europe of Levi Strauss & Co.
Rhodri Evans is a Brand Content Director – Europe at Levi Strauss & Co.
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About Levi Strauss & Co.: Levi Strauss & Co. is a brand-name apparel company designs, markets, and sells jeans, casual and dress pants, jackets, skirts, and more.
Jan Woods
Director of Lion Capital
Jan Woods is a Director of Lion Capital. Prior to joining Lion Capital, Jan completed a 20-year corporate career with IBM and PepsiCo. She served in a variety of international HR executive positions outside of the U.K. Most recently, Jan was the Group Human Resources Director for a Lion Capital-owned portfolio company. Jan received a BA in Theology from Hull University and an MBA from Portsmouth University.
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About Lion Capital: Lion Capital is a consumer-focused investor passionate about investing in brands about which people are passionate.
Simon Burke
Board of Directors of Co-op
Simon Burke is an experienced retail and consumer executive and has managed some of the best-known retail names in the UK. He trained as a chartered accountant before joining Virgin, where he held various positions, including CEO of Virgin Retail, Virgin Cinemas, and Virgin Entertainment Group. In 1999 Simon was drafted in as Chairman & Chief Executive of Hamleys PLC. He has also been chairman of Majestic Wine, Irish supermarket chain Superquinn, and Mitchells & Butlers, the FTSE 250 pub and restaurant business. Currently Simon is chairman of Hobbycraft, Bathstore.com, and Eagle Eye, the mobile voucher specialist.
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About The Light Cinema Company: Co-op, home to Food, Insurance, Funeralcare, Legal Services and Electrical
Pierre Sapin
Managing Director of BORN
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About BORN: BORN is the world’s first private B2B platform that connects a global network of design-led lifestyle brands and retail buyers.
Michael Kraftman
Non Executive Director of My 1st Years
Michael Kraftman is an Executive Director at My 1st Years.
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About My 1st Years: My 1st Years offers personalised gifts for babies and children.
Jeffrey Krogh
Director of BNP Paribas Private Equity
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About BNP Paribas Private Equity: BNP Paribas is a French private equity firm that provides a range of asset management services to its institutional and retail clients.
Johnny Dunford
Director Corporate Real Estate of BNP Paribas Private Equity
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About BNP Paribas Private Equity: BNP Paribas is a French private equity firm that provides a range of asset management services to its institutional and retail clients.
Lawrence Melville
Director of ZigZag Global
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About ZigZag Global: ZigZag Global is a software platform that helps retailers manage their returns globally.
Stephen Finch
Founder and Managing Director of Vagabond Wines
Stephen Finch is the Founder and Director of VAGABOND and BOXCAR
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About BOXCAR, Vagabond Wines: Vagabond Wines is owns and operates wine bars and shops in the United Kingdom.
Stephanie Mathern
Non Executive Director of Vagabond Wines
Stephanie Mathern is the Non Executive Director at Vagabond Wines.
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About Vagabond Wines: Vagabond Wines is owns and operates wine bars and shops in the United Kingdom.
Alasdair Marnoch
Non-Executive Director of The Post Office
Alasdair Marnoch joined the Board of Post Office Limited as a Non-Executive Director on 23 May 2012. A Chartered Accountant, he chair’s the Board’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Sub-Committee which reviews the statutory accounts and financial controls. Alasdair has had wide experience as Finance Director of a number of FMCG and service businesses, including listed companies. Most recently he served as CFO of the Equiniti Group, a leading provider of complex administration and processing services to the public and private sectors.
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About : Post Office is a retail post office company that provides a wide range of products, including postage stamps and banking to the public.
Tim Franklin
Non-Executive Director of The Post Office
Tim Franklin joined the Board of Post Office Limited as a Non-Executive Director on 19 September 2012. Tim was Chief Operating Officer to the Co-operative Banking Group until the end of 2011, having previously served as Managing Director of the Britannia Building Society. Prior to that, he was Director of Customer Programmes and Loyalty and Managing Director of Savings at Barclays. Tim’s experience extends across the private and public sectors. He is also a Non-Executive Director of HM Land Registry and was previously on the Boards of Reclaim Fund Limited, Mutual Plus Limited and the Link Cash Machines Network.
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About : Post Office is a retail post office company that provides a wide range of products, including postage stamps and banking to the public.
Tom Singh
Founder & Non-Executive Director of New Look
Tom Singh OBE is the Founder of New Look, a leading UK entrepreneur and active private investor with family interests spanning: retail, technology, real estate, renewable energy sectors and private equity. He currently holds the position of Non-Executive Board Member for New Look with over 900 stores worldwide which he founded in 1969. In addition to his responsibilities at New Look, Tom is a founding member of: the Social Investment Task Force, the Chairman of the UK Advisory Council for the British Asian Trust, and is a Trustee of the Pakhar Foundation. Tom is an active philanthropist and social investor and in recent years, has taken an increasing interest in the world of technology.
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About New Look: New Look is a retail seller of mens and womens clothing.
Richard Aldridge
Director, Business Development of Wunderkind (formerly BounceX)
Richard Aldridge is the Director of Business Development EMEA at BounceX.
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About Wunderkind (formerly BounceX): Wunderkind enables the world’s top brands to better recognize their customers online, providing 1-to-1 marketing at scale.
Andrew Jennings
Group Managing Director, Retail of Woolworths Limited
A highly accomplished global retail executive with more than 40 years of achievement at some of the world’s most respected high-end, speciality stores. Recognised for his leadership capabilities and performance-driven management style, Andrew Jennings commands a vast knowledge of consumer trends, vendor networks and retail practices in mature and emerging markets. He has distinguished himself in senior executive positions in six countries and on four continents including Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, The United States, South Africa and Germany.
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About Saks Fifth Avenue, Woolworths Limited: Woolworths is an Australian company that was founded in 1924 in Sydney. When we opened our first store.
David Tilstone
Managing Director of Macquarie Bank
David Tilstone leads the renewables team for MIRA in Europe, overseeing asset management of the existing renewables asset portfolio, as well as all transaction activity in the renewables sector. David was a key part of the acquisition team for what became the MEIF Renewables portfolio in MEIF1, leading a number of acquisitions as well as the recent realisation process. David also led the acquisitions of Varmevarden, Renvico and GIB OSW Co.Having joined MIRA in 2005, David brings to his role extensive senior management experience across renewable energy and utility assets. David spent 12 years working in the energy industry, starting his career with National Grid (the UK’s electricity transmission provider). He also worked at TXU Europe, performing a wide range of commercial roles within the UK and Continental European Energy markets including operations, major contract negotiations and re-structuring and M&A activity.
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About Macquarie Bank: Macquarie Bank, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group, provides various retail financing and commercial banking services primarily in Australia.
Adam Hain
Senior Managing Director of Macquarie Bank
Adam has over 20 years of investment banking experience and is responsible for coverage of EMEA clients in the infrastructure and utility sectors including all infrastructure funds, sovereign wealth funds and major institutions. Additionally, he’s now responsible for coverage of Financial Sponsors across Europe. Prior to this, Adam was head of the European Industrials and Financial Services Advisory Group in EMEA.
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About Macquarie Bank: Macquarie Bank, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group, provides various retail financing and commercial banking services primarily in Australia.
Richard Ambler
Mission Director, Home Services of The John Lewis Partnership
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About The John Lewis Partnership: The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned company that operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets, and more.
Nick Whitehurst
Co-Founder and Director of Watneys
Nick Whitehurst is the co-founder and director Watneys.
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About Figura Analytics Limited, Watneys: Watneys and Home Ales brands and they are hell-bent on returning them to their former glory.
Xavier Bellouard
Co-Founder, Managing Director & Board Member of ActiveViam
Xavier Bellouard is Managing Director of ActiveViam and one of its founders. Based in London, Xavier manages the UK operations and oversees the commercial efforts of the company across EMEA and Asia/Pacific. Before founding ActiveViam, Xavier was a key contributor to the development of Summit Systems, a software vendor of applications for front-office operations and trading desks. Xavier is passionate about the contribution that ActiveViam’s technology can make to the bottom-line of companies operating in highly demanding and complex markets. “Their bottom-up, experience-driven approach to innovation is a fundamental component of the company’s DNA. Since ActiveViam was created in 2005, they have valued it as a prerequisite to delivering cutting-edge technology to their clients”.
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About ActiveViam: ActiveViam provides operational analytics solutions to business users in need of timely decision-making.
Steve Webster
Co-Founder & Director of Technology of Tails.com
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About Tails.com: Tails.com is an online pet nutrition service that provides tailor-made food designed to deliver perfectly optimised nutrition for dogs.
Tim Linssen
Co-Founder & Director of Product of Quiqup
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About Quiqup: Quiqup is a provider of on-demand, same-day, and scheduled delivery solutions to retailers and restaurants.
Mark Elwig
Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Staff Heroes
Proven Commercial leader with a track record of driving growth through technology sales with Enterprise customers across multiple sectors including Hospitality, Retail, Travel and Entertainment. Experienced go-to market strategist and sales leader. Deal brokering at a global level. International experience within EMEA and US. Focus, drive and great people skills having lead several sales, business development and client account teams for both Fortune 500 and start-up organisations. Experience in setting up and building out sales and marketing teams from scratch and most recently co-founding and running the commercial arm of an innovative staffing marketplace start-up, operating within the Hospitality sector in the UK. Specialties: Business development, Sales, business strategy, account management, client services, licensing, white label, B2B partnerships, European & Global sales, SaaS software sales, launching a start-up.
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About eBay Advertising, mydeco, Staff Heroes: Staff Heroes is an on demand & AI technology marketplace reinventing the world of work, connecting businesses and workers more efficiently.
Jonathan Cole
Managing Director of Velorution
Jonathan Cole is the Executive Chairman at Velorution.
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About Bike Republic, Deko, syco systems, Velorution, Velorution: VELORUTION is the premium urban lifestyle cycling store.
Gretta Cole
Marketing Director of Velorution
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About Velorution: VELORUTION is the premium urban lifestyle cycling store.
Cheryl Coucher
Buying Director of navabi
Cheryl Coucher is Buying Director at navabi.
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About navabi: navabi is the premier destination for plus size fashion worldwide.
Andy Yates
Director of Craved
Andy Yates is Director of Craved.
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About Craved, Home Grown, InnovationRCA, New Wave Learning, Wildgoose: Craved curates a collection of small batch food and drink made in London.
Chris Christo
Community Development Director of WeLivv
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About Spreddit, WeLivv: WeLivv is a home furnishings marketplace that will enable shopping through photos of people’s homes.
Vince Gunn
Non Executive Director and Shareholder of Pagazzi Lighting
Vince Gunn has served as Managing Director of Crocs Europe since arriving at the company in October 2011. Mr. Gunn currently oversees Crocs’ European business, encompassing the wholesale, retail and e-commerce operations. Prior to joining Crocs, Mr. Gunn held senior roles at The Body Shop International, including Head of Global Retail and Managing Director at The Body Shop UK. He also served on the Board of Thomson Travel Group and Mothercare as Retail Development and Operations Director, developing a number of new retail concepts and brand repositioning projects. At Blackwell UK, Mr. Gunn served as Chief Executive Officer and secured numerous industry accreditations for the company, including Bookselling Company of the Year and Retail Chain of the Year. In addition, Mr. Gunn ran his own consultancy and delivered turnaround and special projects for leading brands including Virgin Group and KRM AG – ECCO Group. Additionally, Mr. Gunn currently serves on the board for Pagazzi Lighting.
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About : Pagazzi Lighting is an online retailer offering lighting and mirrors.
Paul Archer
Founder and Managing Director of Duel
World Record-breaking Adventurer, Best-selling Author and founder of Duel. Aside from his expeditions and writing, he has spent his career building technology, including the Daredevil Project app development studio, and consulting for advertising agencies and tech companies. He founded Duel to democratise and decentralise marketing for brands. Duel is solving the lack of emotional connection and social proof in often clinical looking online stores by rewarding customers for creating visual testimonials and advocating among their friends, rather than wasting millions on advertising to drive sales. Before this Paul conceived and implemented the It’s on the Meter Expedition to drive to London taxi around the World. The expedition broke two Guinness World Records, raised over £20,000 and passed through 50 countries after driving 80,000 miles from London to London in Hannah, a 1992 London Taxi bought of eBay. Paul is also an experienced speaker, moderator and a conference host. Including TEDx, SXSW, Festival of Media, Cannes Lions, Social Media Week, GenerationE, the Content Marketing Institute and Retail.Tech, as well as guest lecturing at the British School of Fashion.
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About Duel: Brand Advocacy Platform that enables purpose-led brands to drive organic growth & retention through word-of-mouth & advocacy
Che Frantz
Artistic Director of HEMYCA
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About HEMYCA: HEMYCA is a London based womenswear and accessories with a vision of Innovative design, modern elegance and female empowerment.
Jason Grima
Director & Co-founder of Everly Wellness
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About Everly Wellness: Everly Wellness is a technology healthcare company focused on providing honest, expertly researched and personalised nutritional products.
Kate Jackson
Co-Founder & Director of silkfred
Kate Jackson is a Co-Founder at silkfred.
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About silkfred, TableCrowd, We Are In The Loop: SilkFred is a luxury retail platform that helps independent brands and emerging designers get their products to market.
William Lankston
Managing Director of Timpson Direct of Timpson
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About Timpson: Timpson is the UK’s leading retail service provider.
Cenk Dumlupinar
Director of Fiver London Ltd
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About Fiver London Ltd: Pure play fast fashion D2C
Darren Callcott
Founder & Director of StreetDots
Darren Callcott is co-founder of StreetDots.
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About CADA Design, StreetDots: StreetDots creates smart street-trading platform.
Talal Cheaib
Partner / Operations Director of Slidr
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About Slidr: SLIDR is a dynamic pricing technology allowing customers to buy products/services at prices always lower than retail
Paul Mead
Exec Board Director of Jellyfish
Paul is Executive Board Director @ Jellyfish, NED @ Social Life and Adviser @ Vitruvian Partners, HolidayExtras.com and Squared.io Formerly Founder & CEO of VCCP Media, Paul is a Fellow at The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, a mentor at Tech Stars and sits on the creative industries Inward Investment Committee and Promote UK board.
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About Jellyfish, Social Life: Jellyfish works as a digital platform, supporting and drives digital transformation by providing strategy, technology, and training.
Tessa Weale
Creative Director of Archie Foal
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About Archie Foal: Archie Foal is a British luxury brand which sells clothing and accessories.
Hannah Chaston
Social Director of Iris
As Social Director Hannah heads up and drives the social and content offering at iris. She oversees and consults on all social media activity across the agency, from innovative platform usage, content planning and influencer strategies to integration and community management best practice. Her efforts have resulted in award-winning campaigns for the likes of Domino’s, Brivtic and many more. Her background is pretty mixed with experience in publishing, retail and PR, in the UK, Australia and Singapore.
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About Iris: Iris is an advertising agency that creates an innovation network of over 1000 people across 17 markets.
Grant Hunter
Executive Creative Director Europe of Iris
Grant is the Executive Creative Director of iris in Europe. He returned home to London in 2017 after 7 years in Singapore where he headed up iris’ creative output across the APAC region. During his time at iris, he has led the award-winning design team for the 2012 Olympic Mascots, developed Johnnie Walker’s F1 branded content series ‘Step Inside The Circuit’ and the ‘Force Of Black’ platform for adidas’ partnership with the All Blacks. He is the co-author of Newsjacking published by Thames and Hudson and is a regular speaker and judge at creative industry events including D&AD Shift.
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About Iris: Iris is an advertising agency that creates an innovation network of over 1000 people across 17 markets.
Hannah Beesley
Social Director of Iris
Hannah Beesley is a Social Director at Iris Worldwide.
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About Iris: Iris is an advertising agency that creates an innovation network of over 1000 people across 17 markets.
Peter Lukes
Managing Director & Founder of Wanstor
Peter established Wanstor in 2002 to provide a more proactive approach to IT support services than the then established ‘maintenance’ companies. Following an early career as a research chemist working at the universities of St Andrews, Durham and Rome, Peter changed track in the mid-90s and began the second phase of his career, in IT. Spells in Italy with a small system builder then back in the UK as technical director of an IT service and integration business followed, before the ambitious launch of Wanstor. Over ten years later, Peter has led the company through continuing success and growth by focusing on their dedication to “service and technical excellence”. Peter has kept Wanstor at the forefront of developments in cloud and hosting services, while adding a focus on core IT infrastructure, networking and front office support.
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About Wanstor: Wanstor are a trusted IT Services company that supports organisations of all sizes in all industries.
Nigel Hilditch
Director, Head Of Content, Europe & Asia of Sotheby’s
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About Sotheby’s: Sotheby’s conducts auctions and private sales of fine art, antiques, and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles.
John Suggitt
Director of Elevate Your Look Limited
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About Elevate Your Look Limited: Elevate Your Look Limited is a brick-and-mortar and online jewelry store.
Chris Sargent
Founder and Digital Director of Sticky Pixel
Founder, UX / UI digital product designer and developer and snowboarder. I like to work with similar people to me; straightforward thinkers who recognise that knowledge, ability, experience and integrity go a long way in building credibility and trust. People who do everything to the best of their ability and who aren’t afraid to take risks or enthusiastically disagree.
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About Sticky Pixel: Sticky Pixel is a product design and software development company, specialised in FinTech and Blockchain applications
Eleeta Tong
Business Development Director of Luckycycle
“The business was created to fill a gap in the market for professional, project based business hunters. Our sole purpose is to ensure we connect you to the right people in a transparent and professional manner ” Eleeta Tong, Founder. eleetat@tenacity-group.com
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About Luckycycle: Luckycycle is a patented sales promotion tool offered to digital stores allowing them to offer free purchases to their customers .
Nicolas Coppée
Sales Director of Luckycycle
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About Luckycycle: Luckycycle is a patented sales promotion tool offered to digital stores allowing them to offer free purchases to their customers .
David Sibley
Business Development Director of Luckycycle
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About Luckycycle: Luckycycle is a patented sales promotion tool offered to digital stores allowing them to offer free purchases to their customers .
Asif Khetani
Managing Director, Ecommerce of BT Expedite
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About BT Expedite: BT Expedite provides innovative, proven technology and business solutions for retailers.
Harriet Hastings
Founder & Managing Director of Biscuiteers
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About Biscuiteers: Biscuiteers is an award-winning online retailer of handmade iced biscuits.
Emma Brannan
Managing Director of Jojo Maman Bebe
Emma Brannan is a marketing director at JoJo Maman Bebe. She is a former marketing manager at Grolier UK.
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About Jojo Maman Bebe: Jojo Maman Bebe is an independent multi-channel retailer of maternity wear, babywear, and nursery products.
Maria Trechman
Co-Founder and Director of Well&Truly
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About Well&Truly: Well&Truly is properly satisfying snacks without any artificial nonsense.
Sara Trechman
Co-Founder and Director of Well&Truly
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About Well&Truly: Well&Truly is properly satisfying snacks without any artificial nonsense.
Nadia Hutchinson
Global HR Operations Director of Kantar
Nadia Hutchinson is an international human resources leader with wide experience in transformation, change management, shared services and M&A. She joined Kantar at the end of 2018 leading HR Operations globally specifically to embed SaaS technologies, transform payroll and professionalize the HR service delivery model across the group. Her experience at British American Tobacco plc. as part of their global HR transformation team saw her leap into the changing world of digital technologies and data management. Prior to this Nadia led the HR Shared Service function for Standard Chartered Bank across Europe with a focus on risk and compliance that has continued in her career. Nadia is English, holds degrees in History, Spanish and Business Administration whilst also speaking Spanish. Her experience has spanned the data consultancy, media, financial services, management consultancy and magic circle legal organizations management. Otherwise, Nadia is passionate about travel and her young family. In addition, she has been a school governor and is a co-founder of a not-for-profit brokering targeted volunteering to support youth engagement and improve social mobility.
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About British American Tobacco, Kantar: Kantar is the data investment management division of WPP, is a global insight, information, and consultancy network.
Max Leese
Director and Co-Founder of Frescobol Carioca
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About Frescobol Carioca: Luxury mens swimwear.
Harry Brantly
Director of Frescobol Carioca
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About Frescobol Carioca: Luxury mens swimwear.
Tom Betts
Group Data Director of Kingfisher
As Chief Data Officer, Tom oversees the strategic use of customer data and research across the organisation, helps identify growth opportunities, and experiments and tests new ideas with the aim of building audiences and revenues. Since joining the FT in 2009, Tom and his team have spearheaded the use of data to improve business performance, allowing the FT to deliver better services and tools for both readers and advertisers.
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About Kingfisher: Kingfisher PLC is a British multinational retailing company headquartered in London.
Lynda Locke
Commercial Director of DisplayPlan
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About DisplayPlan: DisplayPlan is specialists in delivering retail display programmes for the world’s most prominent brands and retailers.
Scott Morris
Managing Director of DisplayPlan
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About DisplayPlan: DisplayPlan is specialists in delivering retail display programmes for the world’s most prominent brands and retailers.
John Trewhitt
Non-executive Director of VEMT
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About : The Experience & Loyalty Cloud. Driven by Psychology. Powered by Technology.
Rebecca Kalra
National Communications Manager, Associate Director of Avison Young
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About Avison Young: Avison Young is a retail company that specializes in making full use of our agency, investment and lease advisory skills.
Simon Kelton
Co-Founder & Director of pepperhq
Simon is a relentlessly determined, passionate and ambitious entrepreneur, writer, film producer and angel investor with twenty-five years of broad-ranging creative and business experience. With an exceptional international network of friends, colleagues, investors and commercial contacts, Simon is able to combine his visionary creativity and communication skills as a professional writer to guide and sell his companies strategic goals and products. He has founded, financed and managed eight companies in entertainment, technology, publishing, event management and the snowsports industry. He has Master’s Degrees from Oxford, Stanford and UCLA and is a member of the British Academy of Film and TV. As a professional writer, Simon has published two books, written more than thirty screenplays for Hollywood including the British hit comedy EDDIE THE EAGLE starring Hugh Jackman and produced by Matthew Vaughn, and penned numerous articles for the likes of TIME, the Daily Mail, Sunday Telegraph, Harpers and Queen, and Worth.com. An avid and competitive sportsman, Simon represented Oxford University at golf, is a member of the Royal & Ancient G.C. and the Queen’s Club, has ski guided for the Ski Club of Great Britain, and taken part in the British and World Extreme Snowboarding Championships.
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About pepperhq: The Pepper platform supports white label apps for mobile payment, discovery, digital loyalty, social media marketing, and actionable data.
Bhavin Patel
Group Omnichannel Director – Ecommerce, CRM and Digital Marketing of Kanmo Retail Group
Bhavin Patel is Group Omnichannel Director at Kanmo Retail Group. His responsibility is to help inject innovation and digital strategy into the business leading Ecommerce, Omnichannel, Digital Marketing and CRM.
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About Kanmo Retail Group: The Group’s has interests across Asia in industry, trading, real estate and financial markets.
Nick Snowdon
Director, TNS UK of Kantar TNS
Nick works in a team of 70 dedicated technology and financial services researchers in Kantar TNS UK, awarded he best UK agency for Innovation and B2B research by the Marketing Research Society. Nick holds an Advanced Certificate from the MRS and has worked in technology research for over 11 years including BOP research in Africa and Asia as well as Westernised markets. Managing project teams of intellectually curious researchers, Nick’ portfolio encompasses a varied mix of clients, including mobile networks, FinTech providers, app developers, video gaming developers, smart device manufacturers and social networks. He has wide-ranging experience in the research fields of brand, communications, innovation and CX research, as well as a specialism within Social Media analytics and the integration of Big Data with traditional research. His core expertise lies in research that contributes to thought leadership and in translating business objectives into research design that will help Kantar TNS’ clients identify, optimise and activate against the key moments that matter most for their brand – allowing them to innovate, inspire and prosper.
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About Kantar TNS: Kantar TNSA is a research worldwide agency that provides actionable insights that helps make impactful decisions that drive growth.
Ian Thompson
Operations Director of Blue Studio Trading
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About Blue Studio Trading: Blue Studio Trading is a supplier of mannequins, bust forms, and visual merchandising displays for fashion designers and retailers.
Octavia Morley
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Card Factory Plc
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About Card Factory Plc: Card Factory Plc is a specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressing and gifts.
Fleurette Mulcahy
Co-Founder and Director of Attollo Lingerie
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About Attollo Lingerie: Attollo Lingerie is a new D+ brand designed by D+ women, for D+ women.
Alice Holden
Co-Founder and Director of Attollo Lingerie
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About Attollo Lingerie: Attollo Lingerie is a new D+ brand designed by D+ women, for D+ women.
Simon Maisey
Managing Director, Global Head of Business Development of Tradeweb
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About Tradeweb: Tradeweb Markets is a global marketplace for electronic fixed income.
Ben Sturgeon
Director of Tradeweb
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About Tradeweb: Tradeweb Markets is a global marketplace for electronic fixed income.
Miranda Davis
Creative Producer & Project Director of House of Fraser
Miranda Davis is a Creative Producer & Project Director at House of Fraser.
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About House of Fraser: House of Fraser is a national premium department store group.
Anjola Awofisoye
Director of Education of Mazedon
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About Mazedon: Mazedon Inc. is an American start-up technology company focused on the development of intelligent shopping and sales of consumer goods
Stephen Benzikie
Non Executive Director of Wamo
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About Wamo: Mobile app that connects brands to fans
Emma Shaw
Co-Founder & Business Director of Library of Things
Emma Shaw is a Co-Founder & Business Director at Library of Things.
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About Library of Things: Library of Things is a start-up that lends out products from drills to sound systems to GoPros from smart borrowing kiosks.
Sophia Wyatt
Co-Founder, Co-Director of Library of Things
Sophia Wyatt is a Co-Founder, Design & Product at Library of Things.
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About Library of Things: Library of Things is a start-up that lends out products from drills to sound systems to GoPros from smart borrowing kiosks.
Rebecca Trevalyan
Cofounder & Community Director of Library of Things
Rebecca Trevalyan is a co-founder at Library of Things.
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About Library of Things: Library of Things is a start-up that lends out products from drills to sound systems to GoPros from smart borrowing kiosks.
Ruth Nicholls
Director Of Operations of Churchill Gowns
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About Churchill Gowns: Churchill Gowns is a supplier and a manufacturer of graduation products in universities.
Bianca Mercer
Ecommerce & Customer Services Director of Smythson
Bianca, originally from Germany, has extensive experience in trading ecommerce sites and running ecommerce teams, particularly for international ecommerce operations. In addition, she has implemented global digital marketing strategies, innovative customer experience initiatives and restructured & build ecommerce teams. Over the last eight years she has launched over 30 websites globally and been directly responsible for the development and implementation of the digital strategy of these sites. In 2015 she became a consultant allowing her to share her experience and insights gained over the last 15 years with a number of retail clients including Canon, Haglöfs, Ted Baker, American Eagle Outfitters, Claire’s Accessories, Mamas & Papas and most recently Smythson of Bond Street. Since January 2019 she is part of the Executive team at Smythson of Bond Street leading their Global Ecommerce and Direct to Consumer division.
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About Smythson: Smythson is a British manufacturer of luxury stationery, leather goods, diaries, and fashion products.
Simon Calvert
Trading Director of Bonmarche
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About Bonmarche: Bon Marche is a nationwide retailer specializing in value-for-money clothing for women aged 45 and over.
Georgie Reames
Co-Founder & Director of Press London
Georgie Reames joined PRESS as Co Founder and Director in 2014.
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About Press London: Health food and nutrition business.
Omar Budeiri
Commercial Director of Taggr
Helped see two startups (Glide, ROAR) from incorporation to mass growth and exit. BYPY Technology Finalist 2014. Strategist and salesman.
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About Taggr: Taggr is a shopping social network with a retargeting platform that links cross-device and browser activity with retailers.
Rajesh verma
Founder and Director of Ebuiteq Limited
Dynamic tech enthusiast working in Development, Architecture & Analysis, helping customers find their way to the best digital solution and deliver amazing digital experiences and software. My primary areas of interest: • Product development • Solution architecture (full stack: server, client, cloud, web, mobile, desktop) • Development (full stack: Java 8, React, JavaScript, Swift, iOS) • Mulesoft, Spring boot, Spring MVC, Docker, Kafka, MongoDB, MySQL, PostgresSQL, Oracle DB, Big data – Hadoop ecosystem • Integrations of Legacy, SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Mainframes • AI & VR • Cloud platforms (Amazon AWS) • Test automation (TDD, BDD) • System Analysis • Continuous Delivery • Agile delivery (Scrum CSM, Safe) I am from a Product plus Consulting background with below-mentioned Industries/Domain experience: -Banking Finance: Open Banking, Trading, Commercial Banking -Others: Retail, Energy Media and Automotive Diagnostics
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About Ebuiteq Limited: Specialised in AI, Cloud, Data, APIs, UI, Digital technology resourcing pool and transformation.
Barnaby Oswald
Managing Director of Local Data Company
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About : Local Data Company is the UK’s most accurate retail and leisure location data business.
Cat Dawson
Sales Director of Local Data Company
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About : Local Data Company is the UK’s most accurate retail and leisure location data business.
Etan Ilfeld
Owner and Managing Director of Watkins Books
Etan Ilfeld works as Director at Tenderpixel. He is a owner of Watkins Media.
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About Watkins Books: Watkins Books is one of the oldest and independent bookshops.
Andrew Burgess
Technical Director of Omnifi
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About Omnifi: A retail and leisure innovation agency
Cosima Pole
Founder/Director/Designer of Creature Clothes Ltd.
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About Creature Clothes Ltd.: Dog and Cat Collars, Beds and accessories. Designed and made by hand in the UK
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.
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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.
