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 Reading based Director operating in the Financial Services 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.
Alastair Weinel
Investment Director, South of LDC
Alastair joined LDC in September 2012. Prior to LDC he was the co-founder and managing partner of the SME growth capital fund Minority Capital Partners. Alastair previously spent ten years at RBS/NatWest where he was a Managing Director of RBS Equity Finance and a co-founder of the highly successful RBS Debt Ventures business. At RBS he completed several successful private equity investments including Towergate, Wightlink, Sporting Index, Morris Homes and Cygnet Healthcare. Alastair is a Chartered Accountant and spent ten years at Ernst & Young, advising entrepreneurs and private equity businesses. Alastair’s investments and exits include Rush, ByBox, CIPHR, Property Software Group and United House Developments.
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About LDC: LDC is a private equity company which provides funds for buyouts and development capital transactions in UK unquoted companies.
Alexander Clark
Investment Director of LDC
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About LDC: LDC is a private equity company which provides funds for buyouts and development capital transactions in UK unquoted companies.
Alexander Clark
Investment Director of LDC
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About LDC: LDC is a private equity company which provides funds for buyouts and development capital transactions in UK unquoted companies.
Jon Hanifan
Tax Director of Throgmorton
Jon is a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) and a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). Jon joined Throgmorton, on 1st March 2017, having most recently been in industry as a Chief Financial Officer. Jon was previously an Executive Director at EY and Principal at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. At Akin Gump, Jon led the firm’s European hedge fund tax advisory team. Jon has a broad range of experience across the Business Tax spectrum, including start-ups, corporate and partnership tax compliance, tax planning and transaction tax. Jon is also a former board member and Gala Dinner Organising Chair of Help For Children (UK), having assisted with fundraising for the charity since 2008.
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About Throgmorton: Throgmorton is one of the leading financial and administrative outsourcing companies serving the financial services sector.
Kerry Kelly
Business Development Director of Throgmorton
Kerry joined Throgmorton in 2010. Starting her career with HMRC Kerry now uses her 16 years of tax and commercial experience to understand the challenges of businesses to assist clients obtain the maximum from their relationship with us. Kerry focus’s on building the business through knowledge, expanding networks, creating positive introductions and seeking a creative and collaborative environment.
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About Throgmorton: Throgmorton is one of the leading financial and administrative outsourcing companies serving the financial services sector.
Ranjan Kumar
Business Unit Director of Throgmorton
Prior to joining Throgmorton in 2008, Ranjan spent seventeen years at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London, where he trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Working primarily in PwC’s Global Compliance Services department, Ranjan specialised in providing global compliance outsourcing services to international clients, fully integrated accounting and payroll services to UK and multinational corporations, and back office administration services for wealthy individuals and entrepreneurs. Since joining Throgmorton, Ranjan has gained significant experience in the financial services sector and developed expertise in regulatory reporting and financial reporting, as well as technical accounting matters. Ranjan enjoys spending time with family and friends, and playing the occasional game of squash and badminton. A general sports enthusiast and an avid follower of Liverpool FC, Ranjan admits to enduring numerous false dawns in that club’s pursuit of the elusive Premier League title.
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About Throgmorton: Throgmorton is one of the leading financial and administrative outsourcing companies serving the financial services sector.
Andrea Mica
Director of Oxford Technology Management
Andrea Mica graduated from the Delft University of Technology with an MSc in Industrial Design Engineering, and went on for a further graduate study in Innovation and Creativity at the State University College of New York at Buffalo. He has a strong and varied background in technology prior to joining Oxford Technology – both promoting technologies for sale, and identifying new technologies to invest in. He also has an entrepreneurial streak – most recently he co-founded CleanSteel Ltd, a company that has developed a new technique for recycling waste products from the tyre industry.
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About Oxford Technology Management: Oxford Technology Management specializes in making and managing investments in start-up and early stage technology-based businesses.
Anant Thakrar
Director of Bluebox
Anant Thakrar joined Mastek in 2004. Anant is a qualified FCMA Accountant and holds an MBA from Henley Management College. An avid cyclist, he also plays badminton and is honing his golfing skills. A family guy, he delights in looking after the kids, in short bursts though. Anant is responsible for financial, statutory and commercial matters relating to Mastek’s UK business. Anant has over 20 years of wide ranging, industry experience. This includes financial management for the EMEA operations of US hi-tech companies. Anant has also managed high profile, large scale construction projects, most notably The HK airport project. Anant also has hands-on experience in financial management for business start-ups and SME’s. Anant has held leadership positions in the UK and internationally across the software & IT services industries, as well as the manufacturing and construction sectors. Anant also serves as a member on the Board of Directors of Legal Practice Technologies (LPT) a JV between The Law Society and Mastek.
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About Bluebox: Bluebox specializes in the planning and preparation of the sale of a business as well as assists with fundraising activities.
Nat Davison
Sales Director of Frontierpay
Nat Davison has 13 years’ experience in the currency world. Starting at TTT Moneycorp Ltd, he ran the Key Partnerships team before moving to Sydney to set up the company’s new dealing hub in Australia. On his return to the UK, Nat became Division Head for a City based broker, assuming responsibility for all aspects of its business. Throughout his career, Nat has excelled in forming and maintaining relationships with industry leading brands. He is married with two young children and is an accomplished runner.
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About Frontierpay: Frontierpay is a trusted, reliable and highly efficient payments provider.
Atuksha Poonwassie
Managing Director and Co-Founder of Simple Crowdfunding
Atuksha has been involved in Peer to Peer Lending and Crowdfunding since 2013. She is a Director of the UK Crowdfunding Association, and regularly engages with policymakers and Government to advance this marketplace for all sectors in the UK. Atuksha is also the 2017 national Venus ‘Influential Woman of the Year’ award winner and is recognised in the P2P Finance News’ 2020 and 2021 Power 50, making the top 10 cut. This list highlights the 50 most influential people in P2P. Being a firm believer in building a strong community and customer base, Atuksha uses her expertise to help property professionals raise finance, build a crowd, and stand out in the market, whilst providing better access to the UK property market to everyone.
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About Simple Crowdfunding: Simple Crowdfunding is a regulated peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platform, offering property finance.
