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 Social 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.
Jon Bellamy
Senior Director, Corporate Strategy of Huuuge Games
Jon is an experienced games industry investment professional and has lead deal processes both as a VC and M&A Lead. He has lead investment processes for many distinct transactions and spearheaded multiple $20-500MM international acquisition processes.
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About Huuuge Games: Huuuge Games is a real-time social casual gaming platform.
Marie Outtier
Director of Product Management of Twitter
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About Twitter: Twitter is a social networking platform that allows its users to send and read micro-blogs of up to 280-characters known as tweets.
David Wilding
Director of Planning of Twitter
As Director of Planning at Twitter UK my role is to help to inspire and enable planners and clients to get the most out of a product by advising them on how to embed Twitter into their marketing and communication strategies. I’ve recently joined Twitter from PHD where I spent 5 fantastic years as Head of Planning, overseeing PHD’s planning product on brands such as Sainsbury’s, Warner Bros, Mondelez, YouTube and the BHF. Before that I spent 8 years at Mindshare. I’m Module editor for the IPA’s Excellence Diploma and sit on the APG committee.
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About Twitter: Twitter is a social networking platform that allows its users to send and read micro-blogs of up to 280-characters known as tweets.
Marjorie Scardino
Member of the Board of Directors of Twitter
Marjorie Scardino served as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Pearson PLC, a publishing and education company, from 1997 to 2012.From 1985 to 1997, Marjorie Scardino served in several roles at The Economist Group, a media company, including as Chief Executive Officer. Marjorie Scardino served on the board of directors of Nokia Corporation, a telecommunications company, from 2001 to April 2013. Scardino holds a B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.Scardino was selected to serve on our board of directors because of the strength of her extensive knowledge of the media industry and her global business experience.
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About : Twitter is a social networking platform that allows its users to send and read micro-blogs of up to 280-characters known as tweets.
Steve Lok
Director, Global Customer Data Strategy of Media.Monks
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About Media.Monks: Media.Monks is a global, digital-first marketing and advertising services company.
Maximilian Bleyleben
Managing Director and Chief Privacy Officer of SuperAwesome
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About SuperAwesome: SuperAwesome offers kid-safe tools and technology for the children’s digital media ecosystem.
Orhan Hasanov
Director of SwiftGift
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About GiftMagic, SwiftGift: SwiftGift is the world’s first Instant Gift Messenger App which allows you to send real gifts to anyone in your phone’s contact book.
Christopher Spray
Director of Vidsy
Christopher Spray served as a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture L.P. Mr. Spray worked in the technology group of Atlas Venture and invested in software and services and Internet related businesses. Mr. Spray established firm’s Boston office in 1986 and was responsible for United States operations until 1998 when he moved to London office. Mr. Spray had moved to United States in 1985 as an Investment Director at CIN Investment Company. He started his venture capital career in 1983 with CINVen. Mr. Spray serves as Director of DoveBid, GoIndustry, Kalido, NTRglobal, Zinwave, picoChip, KDS, and MOO Print Ltd. He served as a Director at Kalido, Inc., Koodos, Corizon Ltd., and 3V Transaction Services Limited. He has been an investor and Board Member in number of successful companies, including OnDisplay and RightPoint Software. Mr. Spray also served on the Board of Business Objects from 1992 to 1994. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA in English Literature from Oxford University.
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About Vidsy: Vidsy is the creative technology engine powering mobile video ad creation for brands.
Tim Davie
CEO & Director-General of BBC
Before he took up the role of CEO BBC Worldwide and Director, Global, Tim Davie was made Acting Director-General following the resignation of George Entwistle on 10 November 2012. Prior to this Tim was Director of BBC Audio & Music (now known as Radio). He had overall responsibility for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and the BBC digital-only stations 6 Music, 1Xtra, Radio 4 Extra (formerly Radio 7) and the Asian Network. He also oversaw the three BBC orchestras in England, the BBC Singers and the BBC Proms. Classical Music & Performance Television, Television Music Entertainment, Factual Radio and Radio Drama production are all within his remit, under the A&M Production department. Tim was appointed to the role of Director, Audio & Music on 1 September 2008. Previously he was Director of the BBC’s Marketing, Communications & Audiences division from April 2005 and before that Vice President, Marketing and Franchise, PepsiCo Europe. He read English at Cambridge University and from there joined Procter and Gamble’s marketing department, becoming a Brand Manager in 1991. He is a trustee of BBC Children in Need, Board member of RAJAR and Board member of DRUK. Tim is married with three young sons.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Holly Goodier
Director Digital – BBC Portfolio of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Howard Stringer
Non Executive Director of BBC
Howard served as Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation from June 2005 until June 2012 when he became Chairman of the Board of Directors, retiring in June 2013. Howard joined Sony in May 1997 and was named Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation of America in 1998, responsible for Sony’s entertainment companies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Music Publishing. Prior to joining Sony, Howard was President of CBS from 1988 to 1995, which became the first network to rise from last to first place in one season. From 1986 to 1988, Howard served as President of CBS News. He was executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather from 1981 to 1984, the dominant network evening newscast of its day. From 1976 to 1981, while he was executive producer of the CBS REPORTS, the documentary unit won more than 30 Emmys including nine individual awards. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Modern History from Oxford University. He also serves on the Board of Directors for TalkTalk and Time Inc., he is Chair of the School Board at Said Business School, Oxford University, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute and Chairman of Board of Advisors, Department of Opthalmology, Columbia University Medical Centre. Howard has also received Honorary Doctorates from Oxford University, the University of Glamorgan, the University of the Arts London, the American Film Institute and the University of Swansea. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and of Merton College, Oxford.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Nicholas Hytner
Board of Directors of BBC
Nicholas Hytner is a Non-Executive Director of the Executive Board. He joined the Board on 1 April 2014 and has been appointed for an initial term of three years, until 31 March 2017. Nicholas Hytner was Director of the National Theatre 2003- 2015. Under his directorship, the National has brought in a new community of artists, produced in equal measure the classical repertoire and new work, and introduced the Travelex ticket seasons which celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2012 and National Theatre Live cinema broadcasts worldwide. His many productions for the National include The Hard Problem, Great Britain, Othello, People, Timon of Athens, Collaborators, One Man Two Guvnors, Hamlet, London Assurance, The Habit of Art, Phèdre, England People Very Nice, Much Ado About Nothing, Rafta Rafta…, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry V, The Wind in the Willows, The Madness of George III and Carousel. He also directed Live from the National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage, a gala evening of live performance and glimpses from the archive celebrating the NT’s 50th anniversary, which was seen live on BBC Two and in cinemas around the world. He was educated at Cambridge University and worked widely in repertory theatre, at the Northcott Theatre Exeter, Leeds Playhouse, the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other London theatre work has included Miss Saigon (also Broadway and worldwide), The Importance of Being Earnest and The Lady in the Van. His film credits include The History Boys, The Madness of King George,The Crucible and the forthcoming The Lady in the Van. Nicholas Hytner’s opera productions include, for the Royal Opera House and Metropolitan Opera, Verdi’s Don Carlo; for English National Opera: Handel’s Xerxes and Mozart’s The Magic Flute; and for Glyndebourne: Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and La Clemenza Di Tito. He has received, in addition to the BAFTA and Evening Standard awards for best British film, many other awards including four Olivier Awards, five Evening Standard Awards, the London Critics’ Circle Award, two NY Drama Desk Awards and two Tony Awards. He was Visiting Professor of Theatre at Oxford University in 2000. He is Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall Cambridge and a member of the Board of the Royal Opera House. He was knighted in 2010.
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About : BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Ciara Riordan
Assistant Editor/ Deputy Director of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Ciara Riordan
Assistant Editor/ Deputy Director of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Stan Stalnaker
Founding Director of Hub Culture
Stan Stalnaker is the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Hub Culture, an ecosystem that includes the Ven the digital currency, Ultra Exchange, AQUA quarantine system and HubID digital identity. Previously, Stan was the international director of marketing for the Time Inc. Business and Finance group, based first in Hong Kong, then London.
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About Hub Culture: Hub Culture is a global collaboration platform focused on digital currency and identity, knowledge brokerage and community services.
Caroline Drucker
Director of Strategic Partnerships EMEA of Instagram
Vice, SoundCloud, Etsy, and now Instagram – the NEXT regular knows her stuff.
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About Instagram: Instagram is a free photo-sharing application that enables its users to take photos, apply filters, and share them on social networks.
Antonia Bonello
Associate Creative Director of BuzzFeed
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About BuzzFeed: BuzzFeed is a cross-platform digital media company delivering news and entertainment content to a global audience.
David Buttle
Global Marketing Director, Commercial of Financial Times
David is the FT’s Global Commercial Marketing Director, leading on all advertiser-facing marketing campaigns for the business. He has been with the FT for over 5 years and has held his current position since July 2017. Prior to this he was Head of Commercial Marketing and before that, Head of Commercial Marketing for EMEA. David joined the FT from Pearson where he led the UK skills marketing team, having previously held a number of education-focused corporate communications roles both in the private and public sector. David holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of London and is currently undertaking a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick Business School.
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About Financial Times: Financial Times is a business news organization providing essential news, comments, data, and analysis for the global business community.
Sarah Wells
Technical Director for Operations & Reliability of Financial Times
Sarah Wells is the Technical Director for Operations & Reliability at Financial Times.
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About Financial Times: Financial Times is a business news organization providing essential news, comments, data, and analysis for the global business community.
Barry T. Whyte
FT Strategies, Managing Director of Financial Times
Ever since he was given a Nintendo Virtual Boy in the late 1990s, Barry has been obsessed with Virtual Reality. Inspired by the endless stream of people coming to his apartment to play around on his HTC Vive, he founded Veero, a location-based virtual reality centre focusing on immersive independent cinema. It will be London’s first VR cinema when it opens in 2018. Prior to Veero, Barry was a furtive entrepreneur in the corporate world, firstly in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather then in consulting at Bain & Company. In 2013 he joined Decoded as COO in early 2013, leading growth from 7 people in a cupboard to a global team of over 100 in three years, scaling through international expansion to New York, Sydney and Amsterdam. Decoded delivers technology education that changes the way businesses behave. Tens of thousands of business people now have digital skills thanks to their signature product “Code in a Day”. Barry is also a co-founder of Series Q, a non-profit with a mission to empower LGBT entrepreneurs; and sits on advisory board of EurOut at London Business School. He speaks at conferences, including Cannes Lions, London Tech Week and SXSW. Barry holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, blogs for the Huffington Post, and makes seriously good homemade soup. More important than all the above, he also spent a fabulous six months as a Starbucks barista. So if you ask him really nicely, he might make you a coconut flat white.
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About Financial Times, Series Q: Financial Times is a business news organization providing essential news, comments, data, and analysis for the global business community.
Niko Vijayaratnam
Director of Product of Financial Times
Niko Vijayaratnam is Head of Product for FT Core who develop platforms that support the wider FT Product and Technology division. Prior to working for the FT, Niko has developed products for global media companies such as the BBC and Dow Jones & WSJ.
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About Financial Times: Financial Times is a business news organization providing essential news, comments, data, and analysis for the global business community.
David Burgess
Director of Deloitte Digital
David Burgess is Managing Director at Reading Room.
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About Deloitte Digital: Deloitte Digital offers strategic, mobile, digital content, digital ERP, web, and digital design, and communication solutions.
Oliver Yonchev
Managing Director, USA of Social Chain
Oliver Yonchev Social Chain is a company of 120+ like-minded individuals who are quickly disrupting the ever-changing social sphere, who pride themselves on telling a brand’s story through creating dynamic, thought provoking and engaging content which is hastened through a 350+ million strong network of social media influencers, pages and communities. With an average age of just 23 across the whole company, Social Chain know exactly how millennials think, listen, engage and share across social media.
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About Social Chain: Social Chain a social media marketing agency.
Ashley Jones
Director of Marketing of Social Chain
Ashley Jones is Director of Marketing at Social Chain.
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About Social Chain: Social Chain a social media marketing agency.
Ashley Read
Editorial Director of Buffer
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About Buffer, The Media: Social Media Management Software for Growing Brands
Simon Daglish
Group Commercial Director of ITV
After leaving school Simon decided that University was not for him and joined the army. This was followed by work in Venezuela, America and Australia before returning to the UK in 1991 to start work on the ‘new’ Daily Telegraph, which had recently been purchased by Conrad Black. Having managed the launch of the Saturday Magazine in 1995 he decided to set up his own publishing company, and in 1998 sold it to Tony O’Riley’s Independent Magazines. Simon then joined the fledgling Classic FM and within 4 years it had grown into the biggest commercial radio station in the UK and the most profitable. In 2005 Classic FM and its parent company GWR merged with Capital Radio and Simon became the Group Commercial Director. On the sale of GCap Media to Global, Simon left and joined the early social media revolution working for MySpace as Commercial Director. Simon joined ITV plc in January 2011 as Group Commercial Sales Director and was promoted to Deputy Managing Director, Commercial in January this year. In his free time he has rowed across the Irish Sea and walked to the South Pole, unsupported on both trips. He has also led an expedition to the North Pole with 4 wounded soldiers and HRH Prince Harry. Simon completed his second South Pole challenge in December 2013 for Walking With The Wounded, a charity which he founded and he has raised nearly £3 million for various charities.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Tom Betts
Director of Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions of ITV
Tom Betts is a Director of Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions at ITV plc.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Steve Forde
Director of Digital Products of ITV
Steve Forde has nearly 20 years of digital marketing and product experience. He has spent the majority of that working for the UK’s leading broadcasters. Steve joined ITV in 2015 having spent a decade at Channel 4 where he headed up the marketing for 4oD and the award winning viewer data strategy. Steve joined ITV to launch of the ITV Hub, which has had a 43% increase in viewing in it’s first year. As the Director of Product and Online Marketing, Steve is responsible for the ITV Hub’s product and viewer strategy. Him and his team of product, engagement and experience professionals are placing the viewer at the heart of the end-to-end viewer experience vision.
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About ITV, ITV, ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
David Padmore
Director of Accessibility of ITV
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Gary Knight
Commercial Content Director of ITV
Gary began his career in commercial TV almost 39 years ago when he joined the airtime Sales Dept of London Weekend Television. He has held many roles in ITV companies across the subsequent years, including the Executive Director of commercial Ventures at Granada & the Brand Partnership Director’s role at the newly merged ITV. In his present position he is responsible for Sponsorship, Digital Partnerships, Branded Content & Product placement activities. He is also the commercial team’s main link into ITV’s production & commissioning teams, giving him a unique insight into this world. Although born within the sound of Bow Bells, he now lives in deepest Kent, closer To Paris than London & only a boat ride across the icy seas to his Viking ancestors base on Norwegian shores. Launching a version of Coronation Street in the Chinese market remains one of his most “ interesting “ achievements to date.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Richard Fenn
Design Director of The Engine Group
Although being a country boy from the depths of Herefordshire, Richard Fenn knew pursuing the family tradition of farming was not for him. Like most teenagers Richard Fenn loved playing computer games and was fascinated by cool tech. This inspired him to study Interactive Multimedia at University, a course offering various modules, from programming to graphic design. Richard Fenn quickly knew where his passions and strengths lay. Returning from a gap year Richard Fenn got a job as a Flash Designer. A few years down the road, it was obvious flash was dying a death and that’s when Richard Fenn traversed to full design. Many years and three companies later Richard Fenn is now a freelance Art Director and currently working at Google.
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About The Engine Group, The FWA: A creative community that provides clients with best-in-class communications expertise under one roof.
Ben Broughton
Owner and Director of Primis
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About Primis: Primis is a provider of talent solutions to the technology sector.
Guy Flintham
Director of OnSerro
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About : OnSerro provides community management software for companies to engage with customers and clients.
Harry Hardisty
Commercial Director of OnSerro
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About OnSerro: OnSerro provides community management software for companies to engage with customers and clients.
Peter Seldon
Director of OnSerro
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About OnSerro: OnSerro provides community management software for companies to engage with customers and clients.
Kathy Phillips
International Beauty Director of Condé Nast
Kathy Phillips spent seven years at Vogue as Health and Beauty Director. She left this prestigious post a few years ago to pursue various new projects specifically the launch of the natural Beauty Brand This Works. But she still maintains a strong link with Condenast in her current role as International Beauty Director for Condé Nast Asia working with all their titles (Vogue, “W” Self, Vogue Girl and Allure) in Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan juggling both responsibilities which call on differing facets of the Beauty industry. For the Asian titles, she plans and directs Beauty shoots, writes articles and oversees the 50-page Beauty sections in China and Japan. At This Works, as Creative Director and Founder, she is involved in the visual and formulations side of the business including the packaging design, concept and creation of products. Her long relationship with Condé Nast began in 1992 when she was first Associate Editor and then Beauty Director of Tatler. She is one of very few journalists who are also involved in the visual side of things, not surprising since she spent four years studying Fashion and History of Art at St Martins School of Art before the start of her career. She has styled fashion, beauty editorial and advertising shoots over many years and worked with the very best photographers including Raymond Meier, Carter Smith, Enrique Badulescu, Willy Vanderperre, Nathanial Goldberg, Dan Jackson, Regan Cameron, Miles Aldridge, Solve Sündsbo, Ben Hassett and Richard Burbridge, to name a few. She has worked for many British magazines and newspapers throughout her career. From having her own weekly page on the Daily Mail, at 23, she has been a columnist for the Mail on Sunday, a commissioning editor on YOU magazine and written for various publications including The Financial Times, The Times, and The Sunday Times, the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, Sunday Telegraph and most recently, Psychologies magazine. She wrote the “Beauty Guru” column in the Evening Standard and from 2008-2010, the “Beauty Queen” column in Observer Woman magazine. She has won several Jasmine Awards, the fragrance industry’s top prize for Journalism and a C.E.W Lifetime Achiever Award, recognition from the Cosmetics Industry. In 1977 she wrote The Vogue Book of Blondes and then edited and co-wrote Vogue Beauty (2000) as well as two best-selling books on Yoga. The most recent of these, The Spirit of Yoga has been translated into several languages and re-issued as a paperback. A new, smaller paperback format was re-printed for August 2005. She has frequently appeared on TV and radio both here and in the US. Kathy is interested in the serious side of Beauty, Complementary Medicine, Health and Fitness and is often found quizzing doctors, dermatologists, laser specialists, nutritionists and cosmetic surgeons as well as being invited to watch operations and new procedures being performed. She has been practising Yoga for thirty years and is a qualified teacher.
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About Condé Nast, This Works: Condé Nast publishes magazines, websites, and tablet and smartphone applications.
Danielle Bennison-Brown
Director of Video Content of Condé Nast
Danielle Bennison-Brown is Director of Video Content of Condé Nast Britain. Heading up a dedicated central video team, she works alongside the editorial and commercial teams of leading media brands including Vogue, GQ, Wired and Glamour to create high quality video content for a combination of digital platforms. In addition to her remit for Condé Nast Britain, Danielle provides input for key Condé Nast International markets. Formerly i-D’s Global Head of Video, she founded and directed the media brand’s video content strategy whilst overseeing production and commissioning. Danielle carved a unique and instantly recognisable style for i-D’s visual output, and the video platform generated 20+ million views in under 12 months, helped in part by the pioneered trend for ‘edutainment’ videos, with strands such as the A-Z and Model Mother Tongue series.
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About Condé Nast, DBB & Partners: Condé Nast publishes magazines, websites, and tablet and smartphone applications.
Ahmed Abou Hussein
Regional Director of Echobox
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About Echobox: Echobox is the leading content automation platform
Oliver Adderley
Founder and Managing Director of Jobster
Oliver Adderley is the founder and managing director at Jobster.
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About Jobster: Jobster is an online recruitment agency based in the United Kingdom
Mats Granryd
Director General of GSMA
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Luciana Camargos
Senior Director Future Spectrum of GSMA
Luciana Camargos is the GSMA’s Senior Director of Future Spectrum. She is responsible for the coordination and applicationof mobile industry positions on spectrum plans and is the manager of the future spectrum team, which looks after the GSMA’s WRC and ITU-R activity. She is also responsible for the GSMA’s Future Spectrum Group, the global committee of industry experts focused on future spectrum issues for mobile. She is a specialist with long experience in mobile telecommunications and spectrum policy. In 2012, Luciana joined GSMA Brazil, after having worked in the UK for consulting firm Access Partnership from 2009.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Wayne Cutler
IMS Technical Director of GSMA
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Amol Jadhav
Director of Market Engagement of GSMA
Amol Jadhav is the Director of Market Engagement at GSMA.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Shane Rooney
Executive Director of GSMA
Shane Rooney is an Executive Director at the GSMA on the IoT Programme. Bringing together strategies and synergies across the M2M verticals and the wider IoT ecosystems. Shane had previously led the GSMA’s initiative in developing mobile solutions in Smart Cities and collaborating with cities like Barcelona, Dubai and Shanghai. His team has developed a wider range of Smart City Indicators, Case Studies and Business Cases demonstrating the importance of mobile technology. His team also have developed enablers in IoT Security and embedded SIM. He has led the launch of Cellular LPWA Networks Technology ( NB-IOT & LTE-M) initiative globally and now promoting Cellular V2X technology. Previously he has been a Group Vice President with Etisalat , developing solutions for Energy, Security and Transport IoT solutions for Middle East, Africa and Asia. Before that he has worked with other Mobile Operators, Vodafone, Hutchison and 3 UK as well as launching and divesting of his own M2M company. Shane pioneered early telematics and connected car solutions for Ford Motor Company in the USA and Europe. He has extensive Global experience. He holds a PhD in Communications Systems specialising in Location Based Services and studied Business Marketing at IMD Switzerland.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Jade Nester
Director of GSMA
Jade Nester is Director, Consumer Policy, at the GSMA, a trade association representing the interests of mobile network operators worldwide. Previously, she was at Promontory Financial Group, an IBM company, where she advised clients on compliance with privacyand data protection laws and regulations. Jade has over 13 years of experience working on information and communicationstechnology policy and regulatory issues. Between 2006 and 2014, she held a number of roles within the U.S. government, including Senior Advisor for Internet Policy at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the Commerce Departmentand Director, Internet Public Policy at the State Department.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Boris Wojtan
Director of Privacy of GSMA
Boris is the Director of Privacy at GSMA, the global industry association that helps shape the future of the mobile industry. In his role, Boris seeks to lead public debate around privacy in mobile and to help global membership deliver long-term benefits for mobile users. He is a firm believer in the value of data privacy leadership: organisations can go digital, innovate and grow and at the same time foster consumer privacy and trust. He brings with him a wealth of privacy experience in the areas of IT and digital. Before joining GSMA, Boris was at Accenture for nine years where he lead the data privacy function for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America and successfully obtained one of the first ever approvals from EU data privacy regulators for so-called Binding Corporate Rules. He was instrumental in obtaining a pioneering ISO27001 certification which applied to Accenture’s entire client-facing privacy program rather than specific locations and led the privacy team’s response to the invalidation of the EU-US Safe Harbor transfer mechanism. Previously, Boris spent three years as legal adviser to the UK’s Information Commissioner and six years in private practice. He has also worked at the European Parliament and the European Commission. Boris sits on the European Advisory Board for the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) and holds IAPP CIPP/E and CIPM certifications in addition being a 16+ PQE solicitor.
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About Global Pulse, GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Jim Wu
Director of GSMA
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About GSMA, Samsung Electronics: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Yolanda Sanz
eSIM Technical Director at GSMA of GSMA
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
Pablo Iacopino
Director of Ecosystem Research of GSMA
Pablo leads the Ecosystem Research practice at GSMA Intelligence. He oversees the direction and production of content for a range of research streams such as industry megatrends, technology developments, 5G and network transformation, telecoms and media convergence, and the future of the digital consumer. Pablo has more than 15 years’ experience in the telecoms industry in different roles, including investor relations, equity research and industry research. He holds a Master’s degree in business administration and a postgraduate Master’s degree in statistics and economics from University degli Studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
John Hoffman
CEO & Director of GSMA
John Hoffman is the CEO and Director at GSMA.
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About GSMA: The GSMA is a trade group that represents network operators using GSM technology for their networks.
David Kershaw
Co-Founder ,CEO & Exec Director of M&C Saatchi
David Kershaw is a founding director of M&C Saatchi. He joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1982 after obtaining an MBA at London Business School. He became managing director in 1990 and was made chairman and chief executive of the UK agency in 1994.
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About M&C Saatchi: M&C Saatchi Group is a creative company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data and technology.
Philip Agnew
Director of Product Marketing of Brandwatch
Phillip Agnew is the Director of Product Marketing at Brandwatch.
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About Brandwatch: Brandwatch is a consumer intelligence and social media listening platform.
Andy Hume
Director of Engineering, Application Infrastructure of Brandwatch
Andy Hume is Director of Engineering at Brandwatch, where he leads the Application Infrastructure team. This team is responsible for application hosting strategy and manages infrastructure and tooling across multiple public clouds and on-premise (AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, Serverless). Prior to this, Andy has held a range of software engineering and management positions at companies like Microsoft, Twitter, The Guardian, and Clearleft.
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About Brandwatch: Brandwatch is a consumer intelligence and social media listening platform.
Peter Maskell
Managing Director of Koninklijke Philips
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About Koninklijke Philips: Koninklijke Philips is a technology company that provides healthcare, consumer lifestyle, and lighting products, solutions, and services.
Hayden Vivash
Financial Director of Koninklijke Philips
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About Koninklijke Philips: Koninklijke Philips is a technology company that provides healthcare, consumer lifestyle, and lighting products, solutions, and services.
Martin Armstrong
Legal Director/Company Secretary of Koninklijke Philips
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About Koninklijke Philips: Koninklijke Philips is a technology company that provides healthcare, consumer lifestyle, and lighting products, solutions, and services.
William McMullan
Director of Sales – eCommerce of Trustly
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About The Carlyle Group, Trustly: Pay directly from your online bank
Daniel Couchman Kendall
Managing Director & Founder of Mission Based Media
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About Mission Based Media: Mission Based Media creates and produces audio content that depends on the organization’s goals.
Eugene Delaney
Non Executive Director of Make Agency
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About Make Agency: Make is a young, tight-knit and fast growing tech team, specializing in the latest trends in website development & digital marketing.
Robert Kilgour
Non Executive Director of Storii
Robert is a Scottish serial entrepreneur, investor and property developer who was the founder of Four Seasons Health Care in 1988. He left in 2000 (when Four Seasons had 101 care homes and 6,500 staff) and later made his final financial exit from the company in 2005. Four Seasons is now the UK’s largest care home operator with nearly 400 care homes, some 20,000 beds and employing around 30,000 staff. He is founder and chief executive of Dow Investments, now celebrating its 27th year, the founder and now chairman of Scottish care home operator, Renaissance Care (which operators 12 homes and employs around 800 staff), co-founder and director of video and security systems specialists, NW Systems Group, and founder shareholder and director of Kingdom FM Radio. Robert holds several other
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About : Software for Senior Care
Lee Buchanan
Co-founder & Operations Director of Miappi
Lee Buchanan joined Miappi as Co-founder and Operations Director in 2012.
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About Appismo, Miappi: Miappi helps brands to discover authentic consumer stories, manage the digital rights and to distribute to marketing channels and ecommerce.
Julian Miall
Managing Director of Gravity4
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About Gravity4: Gravity4 is the world’s first high-frequency machine-learning marketing OS, built to enhance the advertising and SaaS industries.
Tim Perkins
Co-Founder & Director of Nudge Global
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About Nudge Global: Brighter financial futures for everyone, everywhere
Jeremy Beament
Co-Founder & Director of Nudge Global
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About Nudge Global: Brighter financial futures for everyone, everywhere
Craig Ribton
Managing Director of Proactive
Craig co-founded Proactive Investors. He is FCA regulated, an expert in financial media and advanced web design. Formerly a full-time trader, he has a passion for stock picking and a thorough understanding of the financial markets. As managing director, he runs the UK business and sits on the board of the parent company. Day-to-day he helps co-ordinate the media and investor outreach for 300 publicly listed companies. Craig is a member of the Institute of Directors, a director of Fuller Treacy Money Ltd and co-founder of StockTube.com and IScapital.
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About Brighter IR, Proactive: Proactive is an international news and media organization providing coverage of companies in the small to mid-capitalization range.
Paul Dobson
Managing Director of The Chelsea Magazine Company
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About The Chelsea Magazine Company: The Chelsea Magazine Company is an award-winning publisher of specialist magazines.
Vicki Gavin
Commercial Director of The Chelsea Magazine Company
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About The Chelsea Magazine Company: The Chelsea Magazine Company is an award-winning publisher of specialist magazines.
Joshua Nino De Guzman
CEO, Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
Joshua Nino De Guzman is the CEO & Co-Founder at Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Chris Marsh
Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Mike Kent
Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Dan Sutch
Co-founder & Director of CAST
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About CAST, Wayfindr: CAST is growing the supply and demand of technology for social impact.
Adam Maurice
Co-Founder and Director of Fusion Consulting
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About Fusion Consulting: Fusion is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm that offers end-to-end solutions for private individuals and fast growth businesses.
Juan Juan Clemente Lopez
Creative Director of Favorey
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About Favorey: We are building a community of trust, where we can all ask for help from trusted contacts, and use our skills to help others.
Stefan Michalak
Founder, Creative Director of Wantfeed
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About Wantfeed: Wantfeed lets you store and curate things from around the web into your own personal wantlist.
Jo Brandl
Human Resources Director of Immediate Media Co.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Dan Linstead
Editorial Director, Branded Content of Immediate Media Co.
Dan is responsible for editorial strategy and quality across our Branded Content portfolio. His background includes six years as editor of award-winning consumer travel magazine Wanderlust, and 10 years content marketing experience at John Brown, Redwood and other agencies. Former clients include Orange, Honda and the Content Marketing Association.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Julie Williams
Director of Branded Content of Immediate Media Co.
Julie oversees all accounts and new business development, managing the lines of communication with all our clients. Prior to joining us she managed major corporate re-brands.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Alfie Lewis
Publishing Director of Immediate Media Co.
Alfie oversees cross-media content for a range of clients including BBC Worldwide, the Royal Opera House, the RSPB, Cineworld and the Scout Association. He began his career in advertising sales, moving to BBC Worldwide as Advertising Manager of its Youth & Children magazine division. He then became Publisher of a range of high-profile Youth & Children brands. In 2006, Alfie was promoted to Publishing Director of BBC Magazines’ Food and Homes titles, overseeing the strategic direction and budgetary responsibility for Good Food, olive and easycook. He also launched bbcgoodfood.com, now the UK’s most popular cookery website.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Alex White
Managing Director, Food and Parenting of Immediate Media Co.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Clair Atkins
Director of Client Engagement of Immediate Media Co.
Clair is responsible for customer service and account strategy across our Branded Content portfolio. She has over 15 years experience delivering outstanding content marketing solutions for major brands including O2, Odeon and Canon.
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About Immediate Media Co.: Immediate Media Co. is a special interest content and platform company.
Luis Garcia Hamilton
Director Inversiones of Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional
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About Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional: Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional providing consulting, information and facilitation services.
Katya Scott-Barrett
Creative Director of Spin Brands
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About Spin Brands: The go-to Scale Up Social Media Specialists
Nicola Parry
Account Director and General Manager of Spin Brands
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About Spin Brands: The go-to Scale Up Social Media Specialists
Tom Curtis
Executive Creative Director of mediacom
Tom heads up MediaCom Beyond Advertising UK, the content marketing arm of MediaCom, one the world’s largest media planning and buying agencies. He runs a team of around 100 content specialists, overseeing content strategy, creation and distribution for the local and international clients that are serviced out of MediaCom’s London office.
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About mediacom: MediaCom is one of the world’s leading media agencies.
Kim Thesiger
Co Founder and Group Director for Asia Pacific of TVT
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About TVT: Building digital tools for the Entertainment industry
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of Oxfam International
Winnie Byanyima is Executive Director of Oxfam International. She is a leader on women’s rights, democratic governance and peace building. She served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament, and has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. She co-founded the 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance and chaired a UN task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. Born in Uganda, Ms. Byanyima was elected for three terms and served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament. She led Uganda’s first parliamentary women’s caucus, championing ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the county’s 1995 post-conflict constitution. A world recognized expert on women’s rights, she founded the still-thriving civil society organization Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). She has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. Ms. Byanyima is a signatory to her country’s 1985 peace agreement and has helped to broker and support women’s participation in peace processes in Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Sudan and other countries emerging from conflict. She co-founded a 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance of civil society, bilateral and multilateral organizations and chaired a UN-wide task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. She has served on numerous global boards and commissions including the African Capacity Building Foundation and the International Centre for Research on Women. She holds a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in Energy Conservation and the Environment (University of Cranfield), and a B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (University of Manchester). She began a five-year term leading Oxfam International on May 1 2013.
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About Oxfam International: Oxfam is a world-wide development organization that mobilizes the power of people against poverty.
Myrna Atalla
Executive Director of Alfanar
Myrna Atalla serves as Alfanar’s Executive Director. Since 2010, Myrna Atalla has overseen Alfanar’s growth and expansion. Prior to joining Alfanar, Atalla worked for the National Democratic Insititute for International Affairs (NDI) in Beirut, Lebanon from 2004 to 2008, managing its civil society strengthening partnerships. Atalla also engaged in regional initiatives, including women’s candidate training and international election observation missions in Egypt, Jordan Morocco, and Yemen. Atalla holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University and a dual-degree Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
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About Alfanar: Alfanar is a venture philanthropy organization to improve the quality of children’s education.
Fadel Zayan
Investment Director of Alfanar
Fadel Zayan is Alfanar’s Investment Director, overseeing Alfanar’s portfolio of venture philanthropy investments, including monitoring and evaluation of portfolio impact and sustainability. Zayan has been pivotal to rationalizing Alfanar’s investment cycle, developing Alfanar Sustainable Social Enterprise Training (ASSET), and establishing Alfanar’s real-time impact management platform. After graduating in History & Politics at the University of Kent, Zayan worked in communications in Cairo, before completing a Master’s in International Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He later worked as a Programme Analyst at the United Nations Development Programme in Tripoli, Libya, where he was in charge of managing various portfolios, including Gender, Poverty Reduction, and HIV/AIDS. Zayan returned to London in 2009 to work in a political risk consultancy firm and was in Egypt in 2011 during the revolution. Following that, he consulted for Human Rights Watch in Libya over the course of the revolution.
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About Alfanar: Alfanar is a venture philanthropy organization to improve the quality of children’s education.
Jemima Garthwaite
Director of This Here
Founder and Director of This Here, a data-driven creative agency and marketing technology startup. http://thishe.re
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About This Here: This Here build brands through the story-tellers of our generation, influencers.
Saverio Cianfrone
Director Music Partnerships of Crowdmix
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About Crowdmix: Connecting the world through music. The app where bands, fans and brands collide.
Marc Mapes
Executive Director of HiringSolved
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About HiringSolved: HiringSolved makes hiring faster and easier through smart software tools. Automating inbound and outbound recruiting with AI based tech.
Kostas Alekoglu
Managing Director of Caliston
Serial entrepreneur and Managing Director of Caliston Digital, a results-driven marketing agency based in London, UK.
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About Caliston, SmartFi: ROI-driven Digital marketing agency
Paul Davies
Group Client Director (interim) of Econsultancy
Paul Davies is the Group Client Director (interim) at Econsultancy.
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About Econsultancy: Econsultancy publishes research, analysis and advice on digital marketing, social media, e-commerce, SEO, mobile and tech for businesses.
Simon Derungs
Global Client Director of Econsultancy
Simon Derungs is the Global Client Director at Econsultancy.
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About Econsultancy: Econsultancy publishes research, analysis and advice on digital marketing, social media, e-commerce, SEO, mobile and tech for businesses.
David Gibbs
Board Of Director of Sally Beauty
Mr. Gibbs is the President and Chief Financial Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc., a position he has held since 2016. In this capacity, Mr. Gibbs has global responsibility for finance, operations, supply chain and information technology for the company. Prior to his current position, Mr. Gibbs served as the Chief Executive Officer of Pizza Hut, a division of Yum! Brands and one of the world’s largest global casual dining chains, a position he held from 2015 to 2016. At Pizza Hut, Mr. Gibbs was responsible for overseeing the Pizza Hut organization, including the development of a global growth strategy. Mr. Gibbs joined the restaurant division of Pepsico in 1989, which later became part of Yum! Brands, and has served in a variety of executive roles with Yum! Brands, including Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Yum! Restaurants International.
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About : Sally Beauty Holdings is a global distributor and retailer offering professional beauty products to both retail consumers.
Paul Mead
Exec Board Director of Jellyfish
Paul is Executive Board Director @ Jellyfish, NED @ Social Life and Adviser @ Vitruvian Partners, HolidayExtras.com and Squared.io Formerly Founder & CEO of VCCP Media, Paul is a Fellow at The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, a mentor at Tech Stars and sits on the creative industries Inward Investment Committee and Promote UK board.
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About Jellyfish, Social Life: Jellyfish works as a digital platform, supporting and drives digital transformation by providing strategy, technology, and training.
Richard Lamb
Managing Director, UK of Jellyfish
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About Jellyfish: Jellyfish works as a digital platform, supporting and drives digital transformation by providing strategy, technology, and training.
Andrew Harris
Director, Product Activation of Jellyfish
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About Jellyfish: Jellyfish works as a digital platform, supporting and drives digital transformation by providing strategy, technology, and training.
Franki Goodwin
Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi (Advertising Co.)
Franki leads a double life as a Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi London and as Exec Producer at Western Edge Pictures and the Gennaker Group – a group of independent Feature Film Production and Finance Companies. In her first company, Franki&Jonny, she pioneered early integrated content and social media campaigns and won many awards, including a BAFTA interactive and a bunch of D&ADs. Franki was recently was named by the prestigious awards outfit the FWA as a ‘Digital Pioneer’ for her work in this period for Warner Bros, Disney, Skype and Film4. In 2013 she joined Saatchi & Saatchi London, bringing unique digital expertise and storytelling skills to an integrated advertising role working across clients such as Marie Curie, Asda, and Deutsche Telekom. In 2016 Franki won 9 Cannes Lions for “Sea Hero Quest” – the world’s first game to plug into Dementia research, which was named as one of the top 10 campaigns of 2016 by Creative Review and Campaign. In 2017 she was a Judge at the Cannes Lions, and also won 4 Lions, including one gold, for her latest work for DT “Magenta Unleashed”– a partnership with the band Gorillaz.
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About Saatchi & Saatchi (Advertising Co.), Saatchi & Saatchi London, Western Edge Pictures: Saatchi & Saatchi is a global creative communications company headquartered in New York with 130 offices in 70 countries.
Rakesh Bhasin
Investment Director of yourfeed
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About yourfeed: yourfeed is an online platform that connects people to relevant opportunities via their real life skills!
Bengu Atamer
Co-Founder & Director of BuzzMyVideos
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About BuzzMyVideos: BuzzMyVideos is leading martech company that drives hyper-growth & new revenue from and on YouTube.
