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 CEO’ operating in the Digital Marketing space. If you think a CEO’ 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.
Dylan Collins
Co-Founder and CEO of SuperAwesome
Dylan Collins is one of Europe’s most experienced digital media entrepreneurs, focusing on games, kids entertainment and the technology which underpins them. He is CEO of SuperAwesome, the #1 kid-safe brand engagement platform. SuperAwesome works with the biggest kids entertainment brands in the world including Disney, Hasbro, Warner Bros and Activision ensuring they connect safely with over a quarter of a billion kids each month. An active investor and advisor across both kids media and technology companies, he is Venture Partner with Hoxton Ventures and sits on the board of the UK’s top-rated marketing technology agency, Potato and Brown Bag Films, Europe’s leading kids animation studio. Previously Collins founded Jolt Online Gaming which became one of the pioneering social games publishers in Europe. Jolt was acquired by GameStop (NYSE: GME), the largest video games retailer in the world in 2009 to spearhead their digital media strategy. As founder and CEO of DemonWare in 2003, he led the company to become the leading online games technology firm in the global console games market. In 2007, DemonWare was acquired by Activision Blizzard (NYSE: ATVI), the world’s biggest video games publisher and is now the multiplayer backbone of the billion-dollar Call of Duty franchise.
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About Box of Awesome, brown bag films, Hoxton Ventures, Potato, SuperAwesome: SuperAwesome offers kid-safe tools and technology for the children’s digital media ecosystem.
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Gerard Keeley
CEO & Co-Founder of Vidsy
Co-Founder & CEO at Vidsy.
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About Vidsy: Vidsy is the creative technology engine powering mobile video ad creation for brands.
Raj Anand
Founder & CEO of Goodman Lantern
Raj is the winner of Europe’s Young Entrepreneur 2007 by BusinessWeek, Digital Future 50 by Revolution Magazine (alongside Twitter and Spotify), Courvoisier/The Observer Future 500 (2008) and Finalist of Sussex Entrepreneur 2008. He graduated from Sussex University with a Bachelors in Engineering (1.1)/Masters in Research, at 23 he setup Anderstand Limited and developed the majority of the software. Raj worked for the European Union, Sussex University research laboratory and Shell STEP internships developing software projects for several start-ups. Raj won many national awards for projects in computer science, leadership skills and entrepreneurship.
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About Goodman Lantern: Goodman Lantern provides content that helps you increase subscriptions and grow faster.
Damon Reeve
CEO of The Ozone Project
Damon Reeve works as a CEO Of The Ozone Project. He is a former CEO at Authenticated Digital and Hereford Technologies respectively. He has 10 years of experience in the Internet and advertising industries across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Before launching Unanimis, Damon ran his own brand and interactive marketing consultancy after being Head of Marketing for Excite UK. Damon is also a co-founder of OpenX and remains on the Board as a non-executive Director.
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About The Ozone Project: The Ozone Project is a transparent and brand-safe platform offering advertisers direct access to an audience for programmatic advertising.
Thibault Launay
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Exclusible
Thibault Launay is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Exclusible.
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About Exclusible: Exclusible is creating an NFT marketplace for luxury brands.
Evren Kacar
Founder, CEO of DAN Global
15 years of experience in digital marketing and agency business. Established Synergy, one of the first generation of digital marketing agencies in 2002. In line with the rising trends, Co-founded Boomerang Social Media Agency in 2010. Managed both agencies and supported the development of digital marketing industry in Turkey with DijitalAjanslar.com which began as a local network for digital agencies in 2013. Witnessed the rise of the digital age. Gained deep experience in all areas of digital marketing, working with global brands and Turkey’s most respectable brands since 2002, as the definiton of web agencies became interactive agencies with web 2.0, and digital agencies as of today. Established DAN Global in Turkey to provide online platforms, industry knowledge and various tools to support digital marketing agencies and global community of marketers. Expanded his business to the UK in 2017, and established DAN Global (UK) Ltd. in London which owns and operates the Digital Agency Network (DAN), an all-in-one platform to discover the best digital marketing agencies in the world.
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About DAN Global, Digital Agency Network: DAN Global provides online platforms, industry knowledge and various tools to support digital agencies and global community of marketers.
Chris Donnelly
CEO of Verb Brands
Chris Donnelly is the founder of Verb Brands; a luxury digital agency based in London & New York. Verb specialises in creating digital strategies for brands by building websites, eCommerce platforms and conducting SEO, PPC, Programmatic and social campaigns for luxury brands. Operating across fashion, hospitality and lifestyle, Chris has led large-scale digital projects for international brands such Jimmy Choo, Bugatti, Clive Christian, The Wolseley, Claridges, The Connaught, The Berkeley, ALEXACHUNG, Boodles, Creed Fragrances and many more. As an industry expert, Chris regularly writes, speaks and consults on digital marketing and the evolution of the luxury digital market and the emergence of the Chinese consumer. Chris has become one of the leading experts in the luxury Chinese consumer and helps his brands to expand their businesses by focusing on connecting with the Chinese consumer both in China and locally. Chris launched Verb at university when he was 21 and since he has grown the company organically into one of the most recognised luxury digital agencies in the world. While working in the strategy and creative part of the agency, Chris has helped drive growth to a team of 60+ who are serving both national and international luxury brands. Currently hiring for digital marketing positions for SEO, PPC and Project Management.
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About Lottie, Verb Brands: Verb Brands is a full-service digital agency that drives growth, awareness, and revenue located in London.
Mathijs Eefting
CEO & Co-founder of Moteefe
Print-on-demand and retail expert. Co-founder and CEO of Moteefe. INSEAD MBA 2014
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About Moteefe: Moteefe is an e-commerce platform that allows anyone to sell customized merchandise through social media.
Gideon Lask
CEO & founder of Buyapowa
Gideon’s been leading digital brands for over 20 years. He’s proud to have built and businesses for the likes of Universal, HMV and LetsBuyIt.com, but right now he’s busy helping other brands acquire new customers in an altogether smarter way. He’s the Founder and CEO of Buyapowa, and they’re the world leaders in reward marketing, and their platform powers customer acquisition for over 200 leading enterprise brands across 27 countries and in 21 languages.
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About Buyapowa: Buyapowa is the global leader in referral marketing. Your customers have friends, let’s make them customers too.
Tim Cobbold
CEO & Executive Director of UBM Plc
Tim is the CEO & Executive Director of UBM, an event services platform.
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About UBM Plc: UBM is a global events-led marketing and communications services business.
Alfredo Ouro
Co-founder & CEO of Onlive.site
C-level digital executive & serial entrepreneur with 20+ years leadership experience in B2C and B2B An expert in building and optimising digital products and their commercial applications across web, mobile and emerging technologies, blended with commercial strategy, digital transformation, and business development Strong academic background, ranked in the prestigious French Choiseul Institute’s Top 100 Spanish Economic Leaders of Tomorrow. An ESADE Business & Law School Graduate, with a thesis score of 100% A regular guest lecturer and industry speaker at European and US events including ITB Berlin (the world’s largest tourism convention), PhocusWright Innovation Summit in Los Angeles, and Eye for Travel in London
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About Onlive.site: Onlive.site is an e-commerce website that provides live shows to generate profit.
Mark Iremonger
CEO of iCrossing
Mark is the CEO of iCrossing in the UK. Owned by Hearst, iCrossing is the marketing agency for a modern world. Annual agency reviews by Forrester and Gartner have consistently ranked iCrossing as a market leader for the past five years. 2016 saw iCrossing collect the Grand Prix, Best Digital Full Service, Best Strategic Thinking and Best Search at the RAR Awards, the only UK awards based on independent client feedback. 2016 also saw iCrossing announce a strategic partnership and minority acquisition of content marketing agency Mediablaze, and move into a new home on Broadwick Street in the heart of London’s Soho. Mark became CEO in August 2015 following four years as Chief Strategy Officer. He joined from Proximity BBDO where he was Head of Digital and Planning for six years, leading its digital transformation. Before this he was MD of creative shop unit9, voted the 9th most creative agency in the UK by AdAge International, and MD of cross platform marketing start-up Sleeper, that challenged conventional advertising models by bringing the UK’s best TV and digital creatives together. Mark has been a member of the British Council’s Creative Industry’s Advisory Panel, a Vice Chair of BIMA, a member of D&AD, and is a board member of Wired Sussex, a member organisation that promotes digital creativity, innovation and growth.
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About iCrossing: iCrossing is a digital marketing company providing planning and development services for brands and agencies.
Yannis Piperakis-Papadakis
CEO of DOPE Studio
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About DOPE Studio: DOPE creates [D]ata driven, fully [O]ptimized, top [P]erforming, digital [E]xperiences for local & international brands!
Ezra Pierce
CEO of Avocet
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About Avocet: Avocet provides a demand-side platform for digital advertising with viewability, cross-device and class-leading optimization all built-in.
Mark O’donoghue
CEO of AVADO
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About AVADO: AVADO delivers transformative learning that helps businesses gain critical digital skills.
Singe (StJohn) Deakins
Founder and CEO of Citizenme
StJohn Deakins As Founder and CEO, StJohn oversees the commercial and technical direction for citizenme. His vision was to create a service for everyone that lets us take back control of our digital identities and asset our right to self. He works with our team, partners, suppliers, advocates, the media and the general public to ensure that the citizenme vision realises its potential to positively impact the lives of every single digital citizen. . StJohn is a successful serial Internet entrepreneur, digital visionary, mobile evangelist, and documentary producer. In late 2010 he sold his mobile multimedia platform company, 3ple-media, to a US private equity firm. StJohn subsequently advised on the acquisition of the NSN Wimax business unit by SkyView. In 1995 he was instrumental in helping to put Lloyd’s List, the world’s oldest daily newspaper, online. Later, his team at Agency.com developed the first British Airways booking system and global Internet presence. . StJohn produced the acclaimed crowd sourced documentary Twittamentary. He provides formal and informal advisory to a number of start-ups including Distrify, the innovative Internet movie distribution platform. StJohn returned to London to found citizenme after spending 12 years living in Singapore where he worked to advance mobile data services in the emerging markets of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and South America.
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About Citizenme: CitizenMe empowers us people and organisations with the true value of personal data.
Joel Silverman
CEO / Co-Founder of KidsKnowBest
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About KidsKnowBest: A full-service creative agency; driven by insights; powered by youth. Delivering effective and results-led solutions.
Marjorie Leonidas
CEO of Taggstar
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About GlobalReach Technology Ltd, Taggstar: Real-time social proof message expert for enterprise eCommerce | Conversion uplift by up to 12% | Shop Direct, N Brown, TUI, Missguided use.
Zeeshan Mallick
CEO of YouYaa
With over 21 years of marketing experience, Zeeshan is one of the leading experts in digital marketing, media buying, analytics and reporting. He has a multi-channel business marketing background, having worked in the public & private sector and agency and client-side, in banking and finance, e-commerce, travel, technology, and start-ups. Zeeshan has worked in digital transformation, blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry focusing on business strategy, community building and social networking. He is a qualified life coach having coached professionals around the world and teaching in top-ranked business schools, including INSEEC.
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About SeerBytes, YouYaa: A specialist digital marketing agency in London providing bespoke growth solutions for businesses.
Gareth Balch
Founder&CEO of Two Circles
Gareth co-founded Two Circles in 2011 with Matt Rogan having spent his career helping sports organisations grow commercial revenues, most recently in Commercial Strategy roles at Manchester City. Prior to assuming the role of Two Circles Chief Executive, Gareth was Managing Director of the business, where he led the delivery of their client results. As a result of these results, the business grew significantly and won plaudits & awards for the quality and innovation of its work. In Gareth’s final year as Managing Director, 40% of Two Circles clients achieved all-time commercial growth records. As Chief Executive, Gareth leads their 100-strong business to deliver results for all of their stakeholders in each market. He is also actively involved in supporting ESP Properties growth strategy and sits on the Global Executive Committee for that organisation. Gareth represented Great Britain at 800m in an international career spanning seven years and still loves nothing more than pulling his trainers on.
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About Two Circles: Two Circles is a sports marketing agency based in London.
Shumel Lais
Founder & CEO of Appsumer
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About Appsumer: Appsumer automates user acquisition & performance marketing dashboards, reports & insights
Laurent Christen
CEO and Founder of e2y
Laurent Christen is a digital entrepreneur, mentor & investor. Prior to founding companies, Laurent gained 10+ years of experience managing strategy, marketing and eCommerce of Fortune 500 companies including Dell, LEGO and Nikon in European and global roles.
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About e2y: e2y is an award-winning digital experience consultancy, delivering solutions for firms aiming to improve their customer experience.
Ben Bilboul
Chief Executive Officer of Karmarama
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About Karmarama: Karmarama is a full service communications agency, combining creative excellence with technology-inspired solutions
Dagmara Lacka
CEO of Flow City
Dagmara has extensive expertise in digital brand strategy, product positioning and delivery. Over the last decade she has worked across online and offline media in both UK and international markets, bringing in depth strategic experience in the construction and execution of digital strategies for start-ups and blue chip companies, with particular focus on running both internal and external innovation teams. Boldmind was founded in 2012 by leading professionals in technology, robotics and media spaces, with the aim of using our multi- disciplinary knowledge to service clients who were beginning to realise the potential of big data to drive business growth.
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About BOLDMIND, Flow City: Flow City is a simple tool that allows any business to advertise on digital billboards.
Bilal Itani
CEO of Modular Customer Engagement Technologies
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About Modular Customer Engagement Technologies: Modular Customer Engagement Technologies is a 3D Customer Experience Platform, Create your 3D Online Shop & 3D Product Configurator
Patrick Charlton
Co-Founder & CEO of Buzz Radar
Patrick is a social marketing and digital specialist, with a track record of creating a wide range of award-winning campaigns and projects for some of the world’s most exciting brands. He is co-founder of Buzz Radar, an industry leader in capturing and visualising real-time data. Buzz Radar makes live data of all types collaborative, easy to understand and shareable for everyone. He works with some of the world’s largest events, brands and retail spaces, including Twitter, Samsung, Nike, Google, adidas, Intel, Skype, Marks And Spencer, IBM, Red Bull and Adobe, helping them create a culture of listening and marketing in the moment. Over his career, Patrick has been lucky enough to lead major-ground breaking projects on multiple global social engagement campaigns, providing leadership, strategy, production savvy, creative direction and client management in a fast-paced, demanding environment with an online audience in the tens of millions.
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About Buzz Radar: Buzz Radar is an industry leader in making data, insightful, accessible and actionable
Rasmus Gustavsen
Founder & iCEO of NerdPeople
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About NerdPeople: DIgital Marketing, Software Development, Web and App development, QA. Our nerds will help you reach your business goals in next to no time!
Kate Fairhurst
CEO of GrowthMinds
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About GrowthMinds: We are a product marketing agency. We help companies create more valuable interactions with their target customers.
Myles Anderson
Founder and CEO of BrightLocal
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About BrightLocal: Take the lead in local search.
Toby Heelis
CEO (Co-Founder) of virtuall
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About : Transforming industries by creating innovative products that connect the world more sustainably and profitably.
Daniel Emmerson
Co-Founder & Joint CEO of OpenAsset
Co-Founder of meterfy and OpenAsset.
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About Meterfy, OpenAsset: OpenAsset is the only DAM solution built around projects, properties, and people.
Damian Dutton
CEO (co-founder) of BeeLiked Media Ltd
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About BeeLiked Media Ltd: An interactive content platform for brands to engage their digital audience, build first-party data and drive sales
Philipp Keller
Co-founder & CEO of Tail
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About Tail: Tail is a cashback and digital marketing platform.
Alex Vaidya
Co-Founder & CEO of StoryStream
Alex is the CEO and co-founder of StoryStream, a leading live content marketing platform that helps brands such as Porsche and Unilever to source and publish user-generated content, and other forms of live content, to create a more engaging customer experience. Alex is a specialist in content marketing and how the role of technology is changing the nature of the brand communications and the connected story.
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About StoryStream: StoryStream is the world’s most advanced content marketing platform built for automotive brands.
Beau Buckley
CEO & Founder of Revolucion One Digital
Beau Buckley launched Revolucion One early 2016 and is fast becoming one of Australia’s leading digital marketing agencies. With over 10 years experience in digital marketing, Beau’s expertise in SEO, PPC & Web Design has not only helped him build a six-figure business from home, but his strategies have generated his clients more than $3 million dollars in the last two years. He is also the Founder of SEO Services London, strategic marketing partner at Jack Frost Mobile Car Air Conditioning, and marketing partner at MNU Digital. Never shy of a challenge, what separates Beau from other experts, is taking struggling startups and turning them into six and seven figure businesses. Beau has the unique ability to look at a business, know the exact areas which need improvement and put together an actionable game plan the business can implement to generate results…fast. With his wealth of knowledge, years of experience and proven results, Beau has established himself as a true industry expert and a respected figure in the digital marketing space.
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About Revolucion One Digital, SEO Services London, Streemie: Perth Digital Marketing Agency helping businesses generate more leads & sales with SEO, PPC & Web Design Solutions
Rod Brown
Co-Founder & CEO of Opun
Royal Navy veteran with experience of corporate and startup business. Co-founder of three startups, with two exits to corporate trade buyers (Tesco plc and John Lewis Partnership). Former Associate Consultant McKinsey & Co., ex Services Director at Tesco. Intrapreneur and entrepreneur. Spears Wealth Management Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 nominee. British ex-Forces Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 nominee.
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About Opun: Why leave home improvement to chance? Opun is the smart new way to end your home improvement nightmares.
Catherine Burke
CEO of Banner Managed Communication
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About Banner Managed Communication: Banner Managed Communication is a supplier of business marketing and essential communication services.
Chris Combemale
CEO of DMA UK
Chris is the CEO of the DMA Group, comprising the DMA, IDM and TPSL companies. He has over 35 years’ experience across advertising and marketing experience in Europe, the USA and Asia/Pacific including senior roles at agencies, brands and technology companies. Chris launched his career in New York with Young & Rubicam in 1982 after two years in TV production. His 12 years at Y&R included 5 years in Asia, from 1989, initially as regional account director for Dentsu Young & Rubicam (DY&R) and then as General Manager of Wunderman Hong Kong before founding the Wunderman office in Singapore in 1992. Chris moved to London in 1994 as European media and sourcing director for Franklin Mint and created his own on-line catalogue company (Living Heritage) in 1998. From 2000 to 2009, Chris developed Emailvision (now Smartfocus) into Europe’s leading email service provider (ESP) in his dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and UK Managing Director. In addition to his commercial activity, Chris has taken a lead in industry issues including legislation, best practice and education. His industry roles include being Co-Chair of FEDMA, Chair of the JIC Mail board, and seats on the boards of the Advertising Association, Asbof and CAP.
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About DMA UK: DMA UK is a trade body for the direct marketing industry.
Matt Lowe
CEO and founder of performance.io
Networker, broker, influencer, and experienced digital ambassador and communications advocate, Matt is passionate about accelerating growth and innovation in healthcare through use of new technologies and modern day communications disciplines. He provides high-end consultancy to many C-suite executives and fortune 500 healthcare companies, building integrated brand engagement strategies on forensic insights that deliver measurable outcomes impacting the lives of millions. A judge on several awards networks, a regular contributor to many leading publications and regular keynote speaker he also provides advice for a number of start-ups, is a faculty member at BartsXMedicine and sits on the Advisory Board for Webit Health, the single most influential digital economy, tech, policy & startup event for Europe in 2018. Having joined the Board of an integrated network group, in 2015 he founded and launched the world’s first health specialist SEO and SEM company out of London and NY. Passionate about mental wellness, people and productivity he is a Board member for the Hatch supported PeaceLove Foundation, and through his Marketing agency he provides pro bono solutions to ensure as many people as possible help create peace of mind. With faith in people, technology and the marriage of the two, Matt also advises for Artmatr, a pioneering company that are developing next level technologies that sit at the nexus of art, engineering and robotics. Artmatr have several labs and incubators that allow engineers and artists to collaborate to find new solutions in health, art and engineering that are the driving force for the next great crossover of our time, (digital art and physical art) and are helping people with disabilities to express their creativity through technology.
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About performance.io: performance.io is a performance marketing agency focused on health & tech.
Giovanbattista Cimmino
CEO and Founder of SocialAsk
Giovanbattista Cimmino is an entrepreneur in the hospitality and digital industry. CEO and founder of the London-based social media agency SocialAsk, founder of the Remodels agency and creator of the Model Restaurant platform. Giovanbattista is the co-founder of Kowa Restaurant and Osteria Romana.
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About Entrepreneur.com, SocialAsk: SocialAsk is a London-based social media agency specialized in social media marketing and online reputation management.
James Robins
Founder, CEO of XbyMe
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About XbyMe: Next generation digital marketing platform – Social Capital Exchange
James Robins
Founder, CEO of XbyMe
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About XbyMe: Next generation digital marketing platform – Social Capital Exchange
Waqas Iqbal
CEO & Founder of Vix Solutions
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About Vix Solutions: IT & Digital Marketing company based in London
