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 COO’ operating in the Recruiting space. If you think a COO’ 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.
Novo Abakare
Co-Founder & COO of Syft
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About Syft: Syft is the UK’s market leading flexible staffing platform.
Theo Margolius
Co-founder & COO of Otta
After graduating from University College London with a degree in Economics, Theo started his career at Moelis & Company as an investment banker. He then joined Nested to work in corporate finance. He worked on their £100m asset-backed debt funding.
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About Otta: Otta is the recruitment platform that recruits man power in technology sector.
Charlene Chen
COO of Lantum
Charlene Chen is a serial startup/scaleup COO, first at global fintech AZA and now healthtech Lantum. She loves solving problems, organizational design and how to grow and scale operationally optimized teams.
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About AZA Finance, Lantum: Lantum is the online platform that enables healthcare providers to manage their clinical workforce.
Marina Leadbetter
COO of Imployable
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About Imployable: Mobile first technology that allows people to identify, map and track their way to a new career
Alex Calcutt
COO & CFO of The SR Group
Alex graduated from Durham University with a degree in Chemistry. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen and then worked at Prebon Marshall Yamane before joining The SR Group in August 2000 as Financial Director. Alex then became a Partner of the firm. As CFO & COO Alex has overall responsibility for the global finance team, the global IT Team and the Commercial Management team.
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About The SR Group: The SR Group consists of specialist recruitment consultancies.
Tom Hyams
COO of Springpod
Tom Hyams currently works as Chief Operating Officer at Springpod.
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About Springpod: Springpod is an early careers attraction, engagement and recruitment technology that helps young people discover their futures.
Sarah Thorne
COO of The Return Hub
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About The Return Hub: The Return Hub is a recruitment firm in the financial services sector.
Guy Ballantine
Chief Operating Officer of Thomas International
As Chief Operating Officer, Guy is responsible for helping both shape the strategy at Thomas and ensure it’s executed successfully. Guy brings with him extensive experience of helping international businesses grow both organically and through acquisition. He has worked with businesses in multiple sectors, including technology, media, telecoms, business services and education. He enjoys working with businesses going through periods of extensive change, particularly where a technology transformation is required. Guy was previously a Director in corporate finance at DC Advisory, a Partner at advisory business RSM and most recently Managing Director of the Arts Division and Group Head of Corporate Development at the private equity backed Cambridge Education Group. Guy lives in London, enjoying eating out regularly with his restaurant critic wife and trying to keep up with his two young children.
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About Thomas International: Thomas International is a provider of psychometric assessment solutions with a focus on small to medium-sized businesses.
Dan Blake
Co-Founder, COO & CPO of Florence
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About Florence: Florence is an online marketplace that connects vacant care home shifts to local nurses and carers looking for extra work
Chris Cater
COO of YunoJuno
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About Stride, YunoJuno: Online platform connecting freelancers and clients in the creative and technology sectors
Parham Rakhshanfar
COO, Co-founder of Huzzle
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About Huzzle: Meet the Career Companion for Gen-Z. #huzzle, don’t hustle
Ollie Povey
Co-Founder & COO of Tempo
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About Tempo: Tempo is a recruitment platform that connects business support professionals with the best employers.
Tobi Simmel
COO/CFO of Jetsetter Jobs
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About Jetsetter Jobs: Jetsetter Jobs helps young travellers and professionals find their dream job abroad.
Jonathan Deutsch
COO of Wenham Carter Group
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About Wenham Carter Group: Wenham Carter Group is a staffing agency that helps clients find talented individuals through technology.
