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 Chairman operating in the Transportation space. If you think a Chairman 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.
Clive Jackson
Founder & Chairman of Victor
Clive Jackson is the founder and Chairman of Victor.
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About Victor: Victor is a London, UK-based private jet charter marketplace.
Robert Milton
Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Airlines
Robert Milton is a Member of the Board of Directors at United Continental Holdings Inc. since April 2016. Robert was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. and was Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. Having joined Air Canada in 1992 in a consulting capacity, Robert moved from the role of Senior Director of Scheduling to Vice President of Scheduling and Product Management, Senior Vice President of Marketing and In-Flight Service and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Robert became President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada in 1999. Robert is currently the Lead Director of Air Lease Corporation, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and a Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc. Robert was a past Member of the Board of Directors of US Airways, Inc., and was also a past Chairman of the Board of Governors of IATA (The International Air Transport Association). Robert graduated in 1983 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Management.
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About Air Canada: United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 5,000 flights each day to more than 370 destinations throughout the world.
Ron Zeghibe
Executive Chairman, Founder of FREE NOW
Ron Zeghibe is the Founder & Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hailo. Prior to this he has enjoyed a successful career in media and outdoor advertising.
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About FREE NOW, Xenomorph: FREE NOW is one of the biggest ride-hailing apps in Europe and currently available in 11 countries.
Jasper Smith
Co-Founder & Chairman of Arksen
Jasper Smith is the Co-Founder & Chairman of Vala Capital & he attended Henry Moore Studio in 1987.
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About Arksen, PlayJam, PlayStack, Vala Capital: Arksen is a developer of autonomous systems used to offer innovative explorer vessels.
John Armitt
Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Express Group
Sir John Armitt is chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body responsible for the venues, infrastructure and transport for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since November 2012 he has also been a member of the Airports Commission, which is to present options to the government to maintain the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation. Sir John has extensive experience in the construction and transport sectors. Previously, he was chief executive of Network Rail (2002–2007) and of Railtrack plc (from 2001). From 1986 to 1993 he was chairman of Laing’s international and civil engineering divisions, a company he joined as a graduate in 1966. From 1993 to 1997 he was chief executive of Union Railways, the company responsible for development of the high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link. In 1997 he became chief executive of Costain, a position he held until 2001. Sir John is chairman of National Express Group and of City and Guilds. He is also deputy chairman of the Berkeley Group and a member of the board of Transport for London. He is a former chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and vice-president of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
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About Institution of Civil Engineers: National Express is one of the most recognised brands in the UK.
David Ovadia
Founder CEO, Chairman and Non Executive Director of IGS (International Geoscience Services) Ltd
David Ovadia is a successful Chief Executive and Chairman with a proven record of achievement in the public and private sectors. He was a Director of Blenheim Natural Resources plc, previously Coburg plc, London AIM-listed companies investing in the global natural resources sector, CEO of Avenco Ltd and Chairman of South East African Mining (SEAM) Ltd, both junior explorers for gold and other minerals in Africa. He served as a Director of Spectrum General Partner Ltd and was previously the Director of International at the British Geological Survey, from which he spun out and was the founder Managing Director, and later Chairman, of IGS (International Geoscience Services) Ltd.
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About IGS (International Geoscience Services) Ltd: IGS (International Geoscience Services) Ltd provides geoscientific and geodata services to the global mineral exploration sector.
Neil Bennett
Executive Chairman of Rail Operations (UK) Limited
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About Rail Operations (UK) Limited: Rail Operations (UK) Limited provides innovative and pioneering train operations.
Adam Anderson
Chairman and CEO of T. Parker Host
Adam Anderson joined the company as a boarding agent in 1998, where he gained hands-on waterfront experience, and quickly became an influential part of business development for the company. By the age of 24, he developed and negotiated Host’s first terminal operation contract. During his first 13 years with the company, he had many jobs including truck loader, stevedore, terminal manager, business development manager, marketing, and regional manager. When he became executive vice president, he was able to take his first-hand knowledge developed on the docks and grow Host’s top and bottom lines by more than 600% in eight years. In 2011, he was elected to his current role of president. In this position, he is responsible for setting the vision for the Host company and leading our team through rapid scalable growth across all of our platforms. He currently sits on several maritime board associations and has become a recognized industry expert who shares his wealth of knowledge within the maritime industry through conferences, forums, and events.
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About T. Parker Host: T. Parker Host is a solutions provider for customers’ terminal, stevedoring, marine asset, and agency needs.
Kevin Sargent
Executive Chairman of Farsound
Kevin Sargent is the executive chairman at Farsound Aviation and Sterling Aircraft Product.
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About Farsound: Farsound provides consumable component parts for the aerospace engine sector.
Iain Lanaghan
Interim Executive Chairman of Metropolitan European Transport
Iain Lanaghan is co-founder and Interim Executive Chairman of MET. He is also a Non-Executive Director of MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, The National Nuclear Laboratory and Scottish Water. He has specialised in building growth companies in public and private markets, as well as the restructuring of entities in the transport and energy sectors. His previous transport experience has included four years as Group Finance Director of FirstGroup plc. At FirstGroup he significantly strengthened the balance sheet by increasing debt maturity through the issue of £550 million of bonds, including the debut bond, and £400 million of refinanced facilities, as well as major changes to the Group’s pension schemes. He also led a number of successful acquisitions and integrations. He was a founder and former CFO of European transport business Abellio GmbH. Other senior roles have included Group Finance Director at Faroe Petroleum plc, where activities included two equity raises and a sector-leading debt refinancing, and value adding acquisitions, disposals and swaps. He was also Finance Director of PowerGen International, which grew from a start-up to $7billion of projects under management. He has also had experience in private equity backed businesses, including as Group Finance Director of Atlantic Power, which he prepared for IPO prior to a successful trade sale. He is a chartered accountant, having worked in KPMG London and Frankfurt.
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About Metropolitan European Transport: MET is one or Germany’s leading contracted local bus businesses, set up by experts with German and international experience.
Trygve Seglem
Chairman of KNOT Offshore Partners
Trygve Seglem has served as Chairman of our board of directors since February 2013. Mr. Seglem is the owner of TS Shipping Invest AS, which is a 50% owner of KNOT. In addition, Mr. Seglem serves as a Member of the Council of Det Norske Veritas ASA, as a member of the board of directors of Koralfisk AS and as a member of the board of directors of AssuranceforeningenSKULD (Gjensidig). Mr. Seglem began his career at Statoil at its inception and has been involved in the development of offshore loading tankers since 1975. In 1984, Mr. Seglem became the project director and a part owner, through TSSI, of the Knutsen Group in 1984. In September 2008, Mr. Seglem became the sole owner of the shuttle tanker operations of the Knutsen Companies. Mr. Seglem has a degree from Newcastle University.
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About KNOT Offshore Partners: KNOT Offshore Partners operates and acquires shuttle tankers.
