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 Managing Director operating in the Professional Services 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.
Neil McRae
Managing Director and Chief Architect of BT Global Services
Named after Neil Armstrong, Neil has a personal purpose of working to connect as many people together as possible, and this is been a driving force in his career. Since the early nineties Neil has been a leading innovator in the Internet and Telecommunications industry: from using open software to create one of the first service providers in the UK, to building several Global Telecommunications and Internet Networks. Neil has significant knowledge and experience in IP technologies and also significant experience with Optical, Mobile, Voice, xDSL, MPLS and Ethernet. He ran Network Engineering at COLT for ten years, (where he also contributed to COLT’s datacentre build) and ran Network Engineering at Cable and Wireless for four years. For the last four years Neil has led BT’s global network strategy, culminating in extending BT’s leading position in the Gartner magic quadrant, and supporting significant global network expansion. In addition, Neil has worked to expand BT’s footprint and capability in the UK, from BT’s fibre network through to Ethernet, Broadband and TV services. Neil is one of two ‘Distinguished Engineers’ in BT. Neil has been involved in the start-up of many internet governance and supporting organisations, and has been a non-executive director of the London Internet Exchange for fifteen years. Neil has studied leadership and management at Sloan School of Management. He is married with one daughter and has a passion for motorsports and technology.
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
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Howard Watson
Managing Director – Architecture and Global IT Platforms of BT Global Services
Howard was appointed as CEO of BT’s Technology, Service and Operations division, and Group CIO, in January 2016. As CEO of TSO, Howard is in charge of the company’s ‘engine room’; thirteen thousand staff and eight thousand contractors responsible for BT’s core networks and IT systems across the globe. The division manages the company’s internal and external platforms – including TV, Mobile and Conferencing – as well as BT’s world class research and development arm at Adastral Park, Suffolk. BT TSO Previously, Howard was BT’s Chief Architect and MD Global IT Systems, and led the technical teams behind the launch of BT Sport in August 2013. In this role he also transformed the way software development is carried out at BT. He joined BT in October 2011, bringing 30 years of telecoms experience with him, including time spent at Virgin Media and Telewest, and as MD of Cartesian, a telecommunications consultancy and software company. Howard possesses a broad knowledge of technical and operational leadership with expertise in engineering, strategic development and business transformation. His areas of expertise include telephony, digital TV, IP services, high definition TV and ‘ultra’ high speed broadband. He also has experience of integrating networks and IT from his time in the cable industry, experience that will prove useful as BT integrates its network with EE’s. Howard is 53 years old with three children, and is also a qualified pilot.
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Louise Ah-Wong
Managing Director – Transformation of Agilisys
Louise is a Senior Partner in the Transformation Division within Agilisys, she is responsible for developing new business, managing external Partners, overseeing work and developing Transformation “wrappers” and Programmes for clients.
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About Agilisys, Agilisys: Agilisys is an innovative IT and business software and services providers.
Steve Robinson
Managing Director and CEO of Little Fish (UK)
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About Little Fish (UK): Littlefish is an award winning and rapidly growing Managed IT Services Provider.
William Allan
Regional Managing Director Scotland, Ireland & Investments of Currie & Brown (Australia)
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About Currie & Brown (Australia): Currie & Brown is a project services consultancy firm.
Peter Busby
Managing Director of Grayce
Peter is a founder and director at Grayce. With over 25 years’ experience as a management consultant and a board adviser, Peter’s high standards of professionalism and commitment mean he is well placed to lead the management team at Grayce. Working closely with the management team, analysts and clients is what drives Peter to deliver an outstanding service.
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About Grayce: Grayce is provides change management services for organizations.
J. Nicholas Starritt
Managing Director of Sirota Consulting
Nick Starritt joined Sirota as a Partner in 2002 after leaving BP plc., where he had been the Group Vice-President Human Resources since 1998. In his time at BP, Nick led the global HR function as BP grew to become the UK’s largest organization, through a series of mergers & acquisitions. During this period, he was recognized by different external awards as the UK’s top HR professional. Before this role, Nick was Head of Financial Services for the European joint venture between BP and Mobil Oil, based in Brussels, and before that, General Manager of Shared Services for Mobil’s European & African business. His earlier career was characterized by successive senior roles within Mobil’s international Human Resources function, based in the USA and UK and working globally on various organization change, remuneration and HR projects. Since joining Sirota, Nick has successfully built the EMEA operation, acquiring many well-known clients such as Shell, Rolls-Royce, Qatar-RasGas, ING, TNT and the European Bank. Between 2003 and 2009 he was also a non-executive director of Northgate Information Solutions, a FTSE 200 company, and is currently a Director of the Performance & Reward Centre (Parc).
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About Mercer, Sirota Consulting: Sirota Consulting is a global provider of employee engagement solutions that offers the full breadth of organizational assessments, surveys.
David Philipps
Managing Director of Construct
David Philipps is the CEO of Construct, a global digital learning company, where he manages the company’s fast-growing business and leads a growing team across the U.S., U.K, Middle East and South Africa. He is responsible for leading the day to day operational delivery, the commercial engagements, investor relations and for driving the culture of high performance across the company in addition to agreeing the strategic direction of the company with the board.
David was previously CFO of Bank of America EMEA Emerging Markets (CEEMEA) which he developed in to a world class finance team. A seasoned executive with a background in both consulting and finance, David excelled at organising and driving large scale strategic programmes across Bank of Americas international finance space, creating commercial insights, efficiencies, control enhancements and improved people engagement. David was well respected by both his team and the Bank of America finance leadership for his high energy levels, natural enthusiasm and his results orientated pragmatic approach to bringing clarity and organisation to complex situations. He was promoted to CFO of the CEEMEA group after demonstrating a strong track record of performance leading the EMEA Finance Control Group through the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash.
Before joining Bank of America, David spent 5 years consulting within the Finance and Performance Management Global Service Line at Accenture, running multiple successful projects in the UK, Europe and Asia. David qualified as an accountant and corporate treasurer at telecoms company Global Marine Systems Ltd in 2003 before joining Accenture.
David is a passionate endurance athlete having completed swims across the English channel and straits of Gibraltar. He is currently working towards the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and enjoying supporting his daughters with their own swimming and running endeavours.
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About Construct: Construct helps organizations with learners, like schools and employers, create beautiful, cutting edge digital learning experiences.
Norman Frankel
Regional Managing Director- UK/Europe of Stanchion
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About Stanchion: Stanchion provides payments security, consulting, payment management support and systems integration solutions for banks and credit unions.
Nigel Dias
Managing Director of 3n Strategy
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About 3n Strategy: 3n Strategy is a global consultancy business that helps clients in decision-making for large organizations.
David Hanley
Managing Director of Liss Systems
David has been with LISS Systems since 2000, a director of the company from 2001 and Managing Director since 2007. He started out in the late 1970s at Guardian Royal Exchange plc (then a top three UK composite insurer) in their Asset Management subsidiary after completing a Masters degree in Economics. He moved into a Group business management role later on where he gained extensive experience of both Life and General insurance business worldwide. After AXA Insurance acquired Guardian he worked as a director on a number of programme management and change management assignments before moving to LISS systems. David has responsibility for the day-to-day management of LISS Systems and is actively involved across all LISSIA projects and clients. He works closely with the other directors in areas of business development, resourcing and relationships with clients and strategic partners.
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About Liss Systems: Liss Systems provides policy administration solutions.
Michael Sheehan
Managing Director – UK and Ireland of Systems@work
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About Systems@work: Systems@work is a leading provider of expense management, time recording and professional services automation solutions.
David Wilde
Owner and Managing Director of Dwilde Consulting
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About Dwilde Consulting: Dwilde Consulting is a consulting agency that provides expertise in the field of commercial sectors, IT, and digital leadership.
Paul O’Dowd
Founder & Managing Director of Global iSupport
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About Global iSupport: Global iSupport provides consultation services on improving processes for business growth.
Mike Ransome
Managing Director of MCR Broadcast Hire
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About MCR Broadcast Hire: MCR Broadcast Hire provides expertise in providing a complete working solution in the field of broadcasting.
Alex Johnson
Managing Director – Tracsis Customer Experience of Tracsis
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About Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Tracsis: The Tracsis Group is a leading international provider of software and services for the planning and management of mass transit operations.
Niels Footman
Managing Director, UK and Europe of Copylab Inc
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About Copylab Inc: Copylab is an investment writing and copywriting agency.
Damien Field
Managing Director of MM-Eye
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About MM-Eye: MM-Eye is a market research agency, specialising in quant, qual and online research for the automotive and mobility industries.
Christine Stewart
Managing Director of Macresco
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About Macresco: Macresco helps business leaders to build high-performing workplaces, motivate and retain a productive workforce.
Ben Moss
Managing Director of Robertson Cooper Ltd
Ben Moss is Managing Director @ Robertson Cooper Ltd.
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About Robertson Cooper Ltd: Robertson Cooper is a company that promote benefits to employee well-being.
Tony Vaughan
Managing Director of Vexus
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About Vexus: Merger & Acquisitions
