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 VP’ operating in the Manufacturing 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.
Arjun Purkayastha
Senior Vice President – eCommerce, Digital & Ventures of Reckitt
Arjun Purkayastha is a purpose driven leader with extensive global experience managing diverse businesses and multi-cultural teams at FTSE Top 10 and Fortune 100 companies – RB and P&G. He has a strong track record of building outperforming teams, iconic brands & innovative business models across 60+ countries having lived & worked in the UK, Singapore, South Korea and India. He currently leads eCommerce, CRM, digital, DNVB & start up ventures globally for RB with P&L, strategic and operational responsibility of all online channels & customers. He serves on the Board of Directors of 4 high growth, online focused companies – Pharmapacks.com (one of the largest and best 3P resellers on Amazon), Bombay Shaving Company (leading men’s wellness company in India), UpSpring (mom & baby products) and Healthily by Your.MD (AI powered self care). He is also an Investment Committee Member of Founders Factory & RB’s JV focused on Hygiene & Home start ups.
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About Reckitt: Reckitt Benckiser Group is a consumer goods company makes health, hygiene and home products.
Alex Owens
VP, Global Head of Data & Analytics of Unilever
Alex is currently CMI Vice President, Global Head of People Data Centres, AI & Data Governance at Unilever based in London. Prior to joining Unilever, he was Head of Insight & Analytics at Sainsbury’s and had joint accountability for the Nectar relationship. Previous to this, Alex had numerous Insight/Strategy and Analytics roles in Banking and Media. He started his career over 20 years ago at Millward Brown as Research Manager working across a range of large international FMCG clients e.g. Guinness Africa. After Millward Brown, Alex moved to the BBC where he formed part of the team that developed BBCi Player back in 2000 before moving to support the launch of Freeview. He then moved to BskyB during James Murdoch’s first reign before spending 5 years in banking, first with Capital One and then as Head of Strategy at Lloyds Banking Group. Alex earned a first class honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business & Economics from Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordons University.
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Bobby Ford
Vice President/Global CISO of Unilever
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Sarah Mansfield
VP Global Media Europe & Americas of Unilever
Sarah Mansfield has started at Unilever in June 2012. She is responsible for the European, North and South America Media Function supporting the local markets in best in class media plans and capabilities. Previously Sarah led Marketing Services for Unilever’s UK & Ireland business covering media and communications planning and implementation, digital best practice and brand PR. Prior to this Sarah held various roles at Barclays Bank PLC, the most recent as Global Head of Communications and Media at Barclaycard and previously as Head of Innovation Marketing responsible for launching new propositions such as contactless payments, mobile payments to the UK. Sarah has extensive media, communications and digital marketing experience across a number of industry sectors having also worked at various integrated agencies in account management and planning roles. Sarah studied in Sheffield and has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and Marketing. In her spare time she enjoys running as well as music, playing the violin in a local orchestra.
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Bo Ekberg
SVP International of NJOY
Bo Ekberg joined NJOY in early 2013 leading NJOY’s international expansion outside the US, having previously worked as a start-up entrepreneur in London. Prior to this Bo accumulated 20 years of international FMCG business experience in both Western and Central Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and Russia holding various senior Sales, Marketing and General Management positions during this time. Following service in the Danish Royal Life Guards, Bo earned his Masters in Economics and Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and his Executive MBA from INSEAD in France. A native of Denmark, Bo is married with two children and resides permanently in London, England.
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About NJOY: NJOY is a distributor and manufacturer of e-cigarettes and vaping products for dult smokers and vapers.
Stephen Moorhouse
Vice President, General Manager – Northern Europe of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Nik Jhangiani
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Eric Reynolds
Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer of The Clorox Company
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About The Clorox Company: The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products.
Andrew Lonergan
VP Sales and Marketing of Aspect Imaging
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About Aspect Imaging: World leader in the design and manufacture of compact, high-performance MRI & NMR systems offering Complete Point-of-Care MRI systems
Mike Kershaw
SVP of Sales & Marketing of Renegade Tool Company
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About Renegade Tool Company: Renegade Tool Company
Amanda Groty
SVP / GM WW Marketing Communications of Nissan Motor Corporation
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About Nissan Motor Corporation: Nissan Motor Corporation is a Japanese automobile maufacturer.
John Michel
Vice President of Operations of Aseptia
John Michel, Director of Operations, has 30+ years experience in Operations with Kraft Foods. John has a strong background in all phases of Operations from Safety and Environmental Management, Engineering, Project Management, and Plant Management especially in new product start ups and productivity generation. During his 30+ year career with Kraft Operations, John worked as an Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager or Plant Manager at plants in Delaware, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, California and two plants in Iowa. At Kraft, John led the Commercialization of Kraft’s Impromptu Retorted Shelf stable meals, created the manufacturing system for the Maxwell House 3 lb coffee can, and managed the Oscar Mayer Bologna expansion in Davenport as Project Manager and Business Unit Manager, as well as managing 2 aseptic pudding plants. John also served as the President of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010. John is a graduate of Lehigh University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
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About Aseptia: Aseptia, Inc. commercializes continuous flow microwave sterilization processes. Aseptia, Inc. was formerly known as Ultraseptics, Inc. The
Shaun Bunn
Senior VP Project Delivery of Hummingbird Resources
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About Hummingbird Resources: Hummingbird Resources is a West African gold explorer and developer platform.
