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 Local 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.
Sam James
Managing Director of Hassle.com
Follow Sam James:
About Hassle.com: Hassle.com is an online marketplace that matches busy people with local, trusted cleaners.
Andrew Jennings
Group Managing Director, Retail of Woolworths Limited
A highly accomplished global retail executive with more than 40 years of achievement at some of the world’s most respected high-end, speciality stores. Recognised for his leadership capabilities and performance-driven management style, Andrew Jennings commands a vast knowledge of consumer trends, vendor networks and retail practices in mature and emerging markets. He has distinguished himself in senior executive positions in six countries and on four continents including Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, The United States, South Africa and Germany.
Follow Andrew Jennings:
About Saks Fifth Avenue, Woolworths Limited: Woolworths is an Australian company that was founded in 1924 in Sydney. When we opened our first store.
Mark Elwig
Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Staff Heroes
Proven Commercial leader with a track record of driving growth through technology sales with Enterprise customers across multiple sectors including Hospitality, Retail, Travel and Entertainment. Experienced go-to market strategist and sales leader. Deal brokering at a global level. International experience within EMEA and US. Focus, drive and great people skills having lead several sales, business development and client account teams for both Fortune 500 and start-up organisations. Experience in setting up and building out sales and marketing teams from scratch and most recently co-founding and running the commercial arm of an innovative staffing marketplace start-up, operating within the Hospitality sector in the UK. Specialties: Business development, Sales, business strategy, account management, client services, licensing, white label, B2B partnerships, European & Global sales, SaaS software sales, launching a start-up.
Follow Mark Elwig:
About eBay Advertising, mydeco, Staff Heroes: Staff Heroes is an on demand & AI technology marketplace reinventing the world of work, connecting businesses and workers more efficiently.
Lesley Sweeney
Associate Director and Executive Assistant of The MAPD Group
Follow Lesley Sweeney:
About The MAPD Group: The MAPD Group is fueling the expansion of small legal firms across the country.
Patrick Eve
Co-founder & Non Executive Director of TranslateMedia
Follow Patrick Eve:
About TranslateMedia, ZigZag Global: TranslateMedia provides professional translation, localisation, and transcreation services for documents, websites, and content marketing.
Rachel Stock
Group HR Director of Camelot Group
Rachel Stock is a Group HR Director at Trinity Mirror.
Follow Rachel Stock:
About Camelot Group, Reach plc: Camelot Group Plc is a company that provides national lottery games.
Stephen Byfield
Co-Founder & Director of Horizon Cremation
Stephen Byfield is the Co-Founder & Director of Horizon Cremation. Stephen is a planning expert who founded and ran his own consultancy business for 25 years before selling it in 2014. He has been a non-executive director of various businesses. At Horizon he finds new sites and is currently taking several through the planning process. stephen.byfield@horizoncremation.co.uk
Follow Stephen Byfield:
About Horizon Cremation: Horizon Cremation will develop and operate purpose built crematoria across the UK, able to provide greater local choice.
Jeremy Hamilton
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Horizon Cremation
Jeremy Hamilton is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Horizon Cremation. Jeremy is a Strathclyde School of Government graduate and comes from a family business background within the private and residential care sectors. He is experienced in the management of multi-site operations within regulated and sensitive business sectors. At Horizon, he oversees operation of the Clyde Coast facility and is taking other sites through the planning process.
Follow Jeremy Hamilton:
About Horizon Cremation: Horizon Cremation will develop and operate purpose built crematoria across the UK, able to provide greater local choice.
Joseph Munns
Co-Founder, Managing Director/CEO of Bakedin
Joe spent the majority of his career in various senior management positions at IBM UK, before moving to the food industry to lead Bakedin. He has previous experience in M&A, leading the integration of the Maidenhead based Butterfly Software into IBMs development organisation.
Follow Joseph Munns:
About Bakedin: Bakedin, a Basingstoke-based baking subscription service, provides premium home baking products featuring exclusive recipes by Michel Roux.
Farhad Divecha
Managing Director of AccuraCast
Farhad Divecha is the managing director of AccuraCast. He oversees all search engine marketing, advertising and technical development work. A recognised authority in the field of search engine marketing and mobile search marketing, Farhad is a regular speaker at industry conferences and is quoted in numerous popular publications including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and CNet.
Follow Farhad Divecha:
About AccuraCast: AccuraCast is a digital marketing agency based in London, UK.
Jerome Bergerou
Director of AccuraCast
Follow Jerome Bergerou:
About AccuraCast: AccuraCast is a digital marketing agency based in London, UK.
Steve Shinn
Managing Director of LocallyCompared
Steve is the managing director of LocallyCompared.com, the UK’s local business comparison website.
Follow Steve Shinn:
About Disputed, LocallyCompared: LocallyCompared.com is the first local business comparison site. Business owners don’t have the time to spend hours improving their online
Mike Kirwan
Managing Director of R M S
Follow Mike Kirwan:
About R M S: R M S is a marketing and advertising company located in Altrincham that provides services such as PR & Social, brand, creative & design.
Jack Lapping
Managing Director of Duck House
Follow Jack Lapping:
About Duck House: Duck House is the restaurant and cocktail bar
James Stonor
Director of Recommendable
James Stonor is Director at Recommendable.
Follow James Stonor:
About Recommendable: Recommendable.com allows its users to find recommendations for businesses and services within their friend network online.
Francesco Cavallone
Founder and Director of In Other Words
Founder and Director of In Other Words.
Follow Francesco Cavallone:
About In Other Words: In Other Words is the translation agency guaranteeing high quality and accurate translation services in more than 150 combinations.
Liudmila Novikova
Co-founder, Director of Factosphere
Liudmila has over 15 years’ experience of working across the public and private sectors in both Russia and the UK with primary focus on financial planning. After moving to the UK in 2010, she proceeded with her career of Financial Manager being also involved in the market research activities and organisation of international events. Liudmila’s professional career is accompanied by her fundraising efforts for the British Red Cross, a charity she keenly supports. She holds a PhD in Economics from the St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics.
Follow Liudmila Novikova:
About Factosphere: Your fast-track ticket to decision-making on the country markets.
Liudmila Novikova
Co-founder, Director of Factosphere
Liudmila has over 15 years’ experience of working across the public and private sectors in both Russia and the UK with primary focus on financial planning. After moving to the UK in 2010, she proceeded with her career of Financial Manager being also involved in the market research activities and organisation of international events. Liudmila’s professional career is accompanied by her fundraising efforts for the British Red Cross, a charity she keenly supports. She holds a PhD in Economics from the St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics.
Follow Liudmila Novikova:
About Factosphere: Your fast-track ticket to decision-making on the country markets.
Mark Alexander
Non-exec Director of Lettingsupermarket.com
Follow Mark Alexander:
About Lettingsupermarket.com: Lettingsupermarket.com is a national letting agency developed to provide the personal service of a high street agent.
