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 Managing Director operating in the Leisure space. If you think a Managing 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.
Ben Bourne
Managing Director of Bourne Capital
Follow Ben Bourne:
About Bourne Capital, P10 Finance: Bourne Capital is a leading international active property management and leisure operations group.
Tadhg Flanagan
Group Managing Director of Bourne Capital
Following a career in operations and customer services in the airline industry and previously with MWB, Tadhg joined Bourne Capital as General Manager in 2005 before being appointed Group Managing Director in 2007. His flair for developing new ventures, as well as running the serviced office businesses at MWB, has been instrumental in the successful letting and launching of Capital Tower and the development of sales, marketing and operational strategies for all commercial aspects of the Group. Tadhg has also established strong financial controls and disciplines within the group and has defined and grown the property and leisure arms of the business. Recognising that any organisation is only as strong as the people it employs, Tadhg retains an on-going commitment to developing and growing both management and operational teams for the group. Tadhg is focused on Bourne Capital’s owner operated strategy of growing brands within the existing estates, and the acquisition of complementary businesses to create new ventures and grow the business.
Follow Tadhg Flanagan:
About Bourne Capital: Bourne Capital is a leading international active property management and leisure operations group.
John Jakobsen
Managing Director of Merlin Entertainments
Follow John Jakobsen:
About Merlin Entertainments: Merlin Entertainments is the largest European entertainments company operating in Europe.
Estelle Giraudeau
Managing Director of Club Med
As Managing Director for Club Med UK & Scandinavia, She is in charge with P&L (weighing 30% of New Markets Europe Africa Business Unit), with a strong e-Commerce expertise. She is responsible for the launch of the UK Sales and Marketing strategy and She is currently generating significant growth in both sales and revenue. She currently manage a team of 50 people in London office.
Follow Estelle Giraudeau:
About Club Med: Club Med sells vacations and related services, operates villages and cruises, and provides tours and discovery programs.
Daniel Spinath
Founder & Managing Director of Crepeaffaire
Follow Daniel Spinath:
About Crepeaffaire, Entertainment Ventures Group International, Frizzenti, Liberation Cocktails, Tap: Crêpeaffaire offers freshly prepared crêpes, waffles, coffees and smoothies.
Dominic Booth
Managing Director of Abellio
Follow Dominic Booth:
About Abellio: Abellio delivers rail and bus services to passengers in Scotland, England, and Germany.
Jason Anastasinis
Managing Director of TravelStaytion
Jason Anastasinis is a Managing Director at TravelStaytion.
Follow Jason Anastasinis:
About TravelStaytion: TravelStaytion is an online holiday rental marketplace, enables its users to list their spare property or get accommodation at lower prices.
Craig Douglas
Managing Director of Reserve Apartments
With extensive experience in developing directory based web-sites within the travel industry and online booking systems that blow the other guys out of the water – Craig’s here to do the same within the short term rental market.
Follow Craig Douglas:
About Reserve Apartments: Reserve Apartments provides web-based solutions for the short term letting/self catering market.
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.
Barnaby Oswald
Managing Director of Local Data Company
Follow Barnaby Oswald:
About : Local Data Company is the UK’s most accurate retail and leisure location data business.
Yan Zhang
Founder & Managing Director of Glamorous Travel
Yan Zhang is a Founder & Managing Director at Glamorous Travel.
Follow Yan Zhang:
About Glamorous Travel: Glamorous Travel is a U.K.-based tour operator that provides special interest tour packages and programs for Chinese nationals.
Yan Zhang
Founder & Managing Director of Glamorous Travel
Yan Zhang is a Founder & Managing Director at Glamorous Travel.
Follow Yan Zhang:
About Glamorous Travel: Glamorous Travel is a U.K.-based tour operator that provides special interest tour packages and programs for Chinese nationals.