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 Consumer 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.
Tim Griffin
CEO / VP & GM Dell UK of Dell
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About Dell: Dell transforms computing and provides high quality solutions that empower people to do more all over the world.
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.
Sam Jones
Vice President of Torch Capital
Sam Jones serves as the Vice President at Torch Capital.
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About Torch Capital: Torch Capital is an early-stage consumer-focused venture capital firm.
Melissa Kantor
VP of People Analytics and Insights of The LEGO Group
Melissa Kantor is Vice President of People Analytics and Insights at The LEGO Group. She is an accomplished Programme and Changes Director with substantial experience delivering global HR, IT, Digital and Analytics initiatives for the world’s leading corporates across sectors, including the Big Four, global financial institutions, IT and bio-techs, as well as Silicon Valley-based start-ups. Her varied background also includes delivery of Finance, Supply Chain, Quote to Cash and other change initiatives.
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About The LEGO Group: The LEGO Group is a family-owned company that specializes in the development of children’s creativity through playing and learning.
Jeanne Bolger
Vice President Venture Investing of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation
Jeanne Bolger, MB BCh BAO, Vice President, Venture Investments, joined Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) in 2013. She is based in London, UK. Dr. Bolger has over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in management roles across R&D, Commercial and Business Development (BD). She spent 11 years in Licensing and Acquisition (L&A), most recently as Global Head of Scientific Licensing for Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical business, having joined Johnson & Johnson in 2005 from the Business Development group at GlaxoSmithKline. In 2009, Dr. Bolger became Vice President, Alliance Management at Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, working with Pfizer and Elan. Dr. Bolger received her medical degree from University College Dublin. She also holds diplomas in Child Health (NUI) and in Finance and Accounting (ACCA). She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Ireland (RAMI). Dr. Bolger has served as the sole pharma industry representative on two Irish government taskforces seeking to enhance the commercialization of IP from Irish academic centres. She is a visiting lecturer on the MSc Pharmaceutical Medicine curriculum at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
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About Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Pulmocide: Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, a venture capital subsidiary, finances technology companies focused on patient health.
Matt Hiscock
VP of Harry’s
Matt Hiscock is General Manager UK of Harry’s Inc., a company that manufactures and sells razor blades and grooming products to brands and consumers all over the world. Harry’s was founded in 2013 in the United States with its headquarters in New York City, Eisfeld, Germany and London, England. Matt joined Harry’s in 2016 and lead the brands launch into the UK market in June 2017. Formerly, Matt was Marketing Director for British clothing retailer, Boden, running all global commercial activity across eight dedicated markets. He spent seven years at leading online fashion store, ASOS, where he had multiple roles, most notably as Head of Operations overseeing international markets, web production, CX and visual merchandising. Previous to ASOS he worked at British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer for eleven years where he managed the Middle East and Central EU franchise businesses before joining French Connection, a UK-based global fashion and homeware label. Matt currently lives in Brighton with his fiancé, Emma, and two daughters.
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About Harry’s: Harry is a developer of an online platform used to sell shaving equipment and accessories for men.
Julia van Tuyll
Vice President of Investor Relations of Lion Capital
Julia van Tuyll is a Vice President of Investor Relations at Lion Capital. Prior to joining Lion Capital, Julia was employed by Vision Capital where she was involved with the implementation of the fund raising programme including raising capital from new and existing relationships. She was previously with the European Department at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in London. Julia graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne where she obtained an Honours Degree in International Politics.
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About Lion Capital: Lion Capital is a consumer-focused investor passionate about investing in brands about which people are passionate.
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.
Anders Hakfelt
Global VP of Product & Marketing of Ultraleap
Anders has over 20 years’ experience in strategy, marketing and innovation. Over the past seven years Anders has been at the forefront of digital innovation and customer experience transformation, creating and delivering new propositions for a wide range of blue chip clients. He joined Ultrahaptics from Accenture, where he was a Director and member of the management team in their Digital Design and Innovation company, Fjord. Prior to Accenture, Anders was head of Strategic Business Development, EMEA, for frog Design. He has also worked in commercial and strategic roles in a variety of companies, from automotive and gaming to tech startups and strategy consulting. Anders has also been a business mentor for the Prince’s Trust.
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About Ultraleap: Ultraleap is working to create the most remarkable connection between people and technology.
Richard Lagani
Executive Vice President of MMRGlobal
Richard Lagani is an Senior Management Professional
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About MMRGlobal, MMRGlobal: MMRGlobal provides secure, easy-to-use multilingual personal health records (PHRs) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions.
Giovanni Dolci
Vice President, Theatre Development and Managing Director, Europe and Africa of IMAX
Giovanni Dolci joined IMAX Corporation in October 2012 as Vice President, Theatre Development. In January 2017 he was also appointed Managing Director Europe and Africa, where he is responsible for growing and expanding the IMAX theatre network across the two continents. He previously served as Director of Business Development and Commercial Operations at Arts Alliance, where he was in charge of negotiations with cinema exhibitors and film distributors throughout EMEA to support the market’s transition to digital projection technology and where he helped establish a worldwide digital distribution platform. Prior to Arts Alliance, Giovanni Dolci worked in film financing and oversaw a number of projects based in New Zealand, Italy and the UK. He has a degree in Economics and Management from Bocconi University in Milan and an MSc in Management from Cass Business School in London. He is a Junior Fellow of the Aspen Institute Italy.
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About IMAX: IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies.
Pam Charris
Vice President Global Marketing of Nualight
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About Nualight: Nualight is a LED retail lighting company specializing in illuminating refrigerated displays and fresh food displays.
