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 United Kingdom based Director operating in the Travel Agency 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.
Ianina Lucca
Growth Director of Skyscanner
Ianina leads Marketing Foundations Tribe for Skyscanner across both Product and Marketing. Previous to Skyscanner she was Director of Growth at Just Eat and before that she held multiple roles in Marketing and Product at Hotels.com (Expedia Inc.). Ianina holds a MBA from Wharton and a MA in International Studies from Lauder Institute. When she’s not in a plane for work or pleasure, she loves spending time with her family and teaching her young children how to bake and ski.
Follow Ianina Lucca:
About Skyscanner: Skyscanner operates as a trips meta-search engine company.
Giles Kendall
Operations Director of Punch Taverns
Giles was appointed to the role of Operations Director for the national Punch core business in March 2016. He joined Punch as a Regional Operations Director in 2004, following the acquisition of Pubmaster, then progressing to the role of Operations Director, looking after 1,500 core estate pubs in the South, responsible for delivering sustainable sales and profit growth. He has been fully involved in the ongoing change program, putting our pub Partners at the center of everything we do. This has been helped by his previous experience of running his own small company and understanding first hand the challenges this involves. Giles started his career with Allied Domecq as a graduate and worked in a range of field and office-based roles during his 19 years with the group. He held a number of senior positions including Marketing Director for Ansells in the Midlands and his final role as National Managing Director for 700 unbranded managed houses for Allied Domecq Leisure. He left to set up and run his own “grab & go” stores in London, based on the Pret a Manger offer but with a healthier twist. He sold up in 2001 and returned to the pub sector with Pubmaster.
Follow Giles Kendall:
About Punch Taverns: Punch Taverns is one of the UK’s largest leased pub companies, with a portfolio of more than 3,300 pubs nationwide.
Jackie Burn
HR & Services Director of Punch Taverns
Jackie Burn was appointed to the role of HR and Services Director in August 2015. Jackie joined Punch in 2005 and was appointed as HR Director in 2011. Whilst Jackie started her career in financial services, she has more than 15 years experience in the licensed trade sector and has held roles within both managed and leased pub businesses. She is responsible for the overall HR strategy within Punch, including employee engagement, reward, learning and development and internal communication. She is the Chair of Punch Community Promise – the company’s volunteer and charitable program and is also a trustee for both Homestart (a charity supporting young families) and the Burton Breweries Charitable Trust.
Follow Jackie Burn:
About Punch Taverns: Punch Taverns is one of the UK’s largest leased pub companies, with a portfolio of more than 3,300 pubs nationwide.
Charlie McGonagle
Operations Director of Cardinal Maritime
Charlie McGonagle is the operations director at Cardinal Maritime.
Follow Charlie McGonagle:
About Cardinal Maritime: Cardinal Maritime offers import and export services (LCL & FCL) to the Far East, Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa and Americas.
Andrew Smithurst
Global Agency Director of Cardinal Maritime
Andrew Smithurst is the global agency director of Cardinal Maritime.
Follow Andrew Smithurst:
About Cardinal Maritime: Cardinal Maritime offers import and export services (LCL & FCL) to the Far East, Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa and Americas.
Julie McAlinden
Sales and Marketing Director of Cardinal Maritime
Julie McAlinden is the sales and marketing Director of Cardinal Maritime.
Follow Julie McAlinden:
About Cardinal Maritime: Cardinal Maritime offers import and export services (LCL & FCL) to the Far East, Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa and Americas.
Matt Smith
Co-Founder and Director of Black Tomato
Matt Smith set up Black Tomato Ltd with Tom Marchant and James Merrett in 2005 and to date have had a broad strategic and operational remit across all areas of Black Tomato. Central to Matt’s role is the responsibility for both driving forward the day to day business operations and Business Development / Sales processes that have underpinned the Group’s commercial success and significant growth. I also oversees a number of critical areas of the business including, Office Infrastructure, Company /Staff Culture, IT, Security, Data Protection/GDPR, HR, H&S / F&S, Insurance, Legal Contracting , Procurement, Staff / Business expenses, Staff Reward / Engagement, Staff Training and Staff Meetings and Events. Alongside this, he leads critical strategic projects including those that increase profitability and productivity across the business in line with the constant reinforcement of BT’s ‘purpose’ and company culture both internally and externally.
Follow Matt Smith:
About Black Tomato: Black Tomato is a bespoke luxury travel company that delivers imaginative and travel experiences around the world.
John O’Sullivan
Managing Director of Depot Adventures
Follow John O’Sullivan:
About Depot Adventures: Depot Adventures is a walking tour operator that offers a variety of free and paid walking tours.
Graham Greenaway
Director of FHR
Follow Graham Greenaway:
About FHR: FHR is a travel services company.
Marc Harris
Managing Director of Tanzania Odyssey
Follow Marc Harris:
About Tanzania Odyssey: We know Tanzania. We pride ourselves in keeping up to date to ensure we’re able to provide the best tours of this magnificent land.
