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 Analytics 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.
Imam Hoque
COO, CPO & Co-founder of Quantexa
Imam has spent 28 years in the IT services and software industry and now specialises in large data driven solutions with a focus on financial crime. He worked as a developer, project manager and technical architect before becoming the CTO of an internet solutions start-up and then founding Detica NetReveal. He grew Detica NetReveal to a team of more than 300 specialists and then as a managing board director went on to acquire and integrate Norkom AML. Prior to Quantexa, Imam led the SAS Financial Crime practice for EMEA/AP.
Follow Imam Hoque:
About Quantexa: Quantexa is a global data and analytics software company pioneering Contextual Decision Intelligence.
Omid Ashtari
Chief Operating Officer of Streetbees
Omid is General Manager at Citymapper and deals with everything business related that needs to be taken care of! He recently joined Citymapper after spending 2.5 years as a MD of Foursquare where he grew the international user base and revenue through strategic partnerships and ad sales. Before that he spent 7 years with Google in Dublin, London and San Francisco. During his Google tenure he held multiple positions in sales and business development, working with a broad range of clients and partners across the globe. This meant closing strategic deals for products like Google Search, Maps, Product Search, Google+ and selling the full suite of Google ad products. Omid holds a bachelor’s degree in European Business Administration from Cologne Business School Germany and graduated with Honors. He is currently based in London, UK.
Follow Omid Ashtari:
About Citymapper, Streetbees: Streetbees is a human intelligence platform that collects and analyzes offline consumer behavior.
Alexander Jevons
COO of Hummingbird Technologies
Alexander Jevons is the COO at Hummingbird Technologies.
Follow Alexander Jevons:
About Hummingbird Technologies: Hummingbird is a drone and satellite enabled imagery analytics business for precision agriculture.
Daisy Hill
Chief Operating Officer of Zzish
8 years in high-growth tech ventures after creating her own music education startup. Organises chaos at Zzish. History geek, wannabe boxer.
Follow Daisy Hill:
About Zzish: Zzish is a valuable classroom digital teaching tool for teachers that provides real-time feedback on the progress of their students.
Varun Sahni
Co-Founder & COO of CreditEnable
Varun Sahni has built and operated multiple successful companies over the past 20 years across emerging and developed markets ranging across financial services, healthcare and high technology firms. He is co-founder of Impact Investment Partners a UK based FCA regulated asset manager which operates across multiple markets and sectors. Prior to which he was head of Acumen India and has worked with Unilever, CARE and Oxfam to build up their SME portfolios. Varun is on a range of global advisory boards and fund investment committees focused on emerging markets and sustainable investing. He has been widely quoted in international media over the years and is a Chevening Scholar from the London School of Economics, a TED Fellow and an Asia Society Global Young Leader. Varun has an MA from Columbia University, and is also a Chevening Scholar.
Follow Varun Sahni:
About CreditEnable: CreditEnable provides data analytics, deep learning, AI and technology to build solutions to financial challenges.
Christopher Varin
COO of Cazana
Follow Christopher Varin:
About Car and Classic: Cazana data helps motor retailers, insurers and lenders digitally transform with big data and machine learning technology
Lennert Acke
COO of Datatonic
Follow Lennert Acke:
About Datatonic: Datatonic is a team of data and statistics experts that helps corporations drive their business through the power of analytics.
Chris Wray
COO of SYD
An experienced business consultant with 30 years strategic, financial, IT and operational consulting experience covering service delivery, account and practice management roles for Arthur Andersen, Andersen Consulting, Price Waterhouse and Deloitte. The role I perform best is one of integration – vertically between strategy, business design and delivery or horizontally across different competencies. In the role of account partner, business architect or program director, I have led the delivery of major business design and program delivery engagements for both small and large service based organisations. Line management responsibilities include managing consulting practices at a national, industry, service line, competency, regional and local office level.
Follow Chris Wray:
About SYD: Predictive population analytics for enterprise & AI virtual companion for employees
Rony Seamons
Chief Operating Officer & Director Of Operations of AMPLYFI
Rony Seamons is the Chief Operating Officer and Director Of Operations of AMPLYFI.
Follow Rony Seamons:
About AMPLYFI: AMPLYFI is a privately held company that provides software platform capable of intelligently harvesting open source data from the internet.
Richard Groves
Founder & COO of UXCam
Founder & COO of UXCam.
Follow Richard Groves:
About UXCam: Deliver the perfect app experience
Gianluca Carrera
COO of Reward Insight
Follow Gianluca Carrera:
About Reward Insight: Reward is a global data monetisation company that helps the worlds largest banks and retailers understand and change consumer behaviour
Mark Boxall
Chief Operating Officer of D4t4 Solutions
Mark Boxall has over 20 years of experience of the IT industry. He has considerable operational, sales and financial experience having been both board director and senior manager at technology consultancies and product based technology companies such as rbase, Morse, PTC and Siemens. Mark has also been involved with both start-ups and global corporations, most recently as Senior Manager at EMC, where he was responsible for managing sales engagements to transform IT for the largest global investment banks. Prior to EMC, Mark also gained valuable experience in corporate finance transactions, both as principal and advisor and, before that, was a founding director of Chapter26 Ltd which was acquired by D4t4 Solutions in 2008. Mark was subsequently responsible for the continued success and integration of the two organisations.
Follow Mark Boxall:
About D4t4 Solutions: D4t4 Solutions is a business-to-business provider of information technology products and services.
Helen Mayhew
COO Europe of QuantumBlack
Helen is Chief Operating Officer for Europe at QuantumBlack, a McKinsey Company. She has guided global organisations on their analytics journeys, advising top executives and leaders on the potential for insight and innovation through advanced analytics. As COO, she is scaling the company and its impact around the world as she helps clients do the same. Examples of her work include: Implementing advanced geospatial analytics to model the impact of consumer changes on the footprint and property portfolio of a retailer, which helped the client understand the drivers of revenue performance, giving a new view of their business Leading an advanced analytics approach to bring new techniques to a retail bank, improving performance of its mortgage sales teams; also embedding tools and mindsets of data driven decision making across frontline staff Leading a project to predict and reduce government exposure to private sector insolvency, delivering both on-the-ground training and an interactive seminar series to build capabilities of the analytics team Helen is also the founder of McKinsey’s Analytics Academy and a thought-leader in progressing ethical and sustainable AI standards. Before joining McKinsey, she was a lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and spent time on secondment at both Tesco and the Bank of England. She also worked at the European Commission, supporting the Directorate-General for External Relations. Passionate about sailing, Helen is a former world champion and was a training partner to team Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics.
Follow Helen Mayhew:
About QuantumBlack: QuantumBlack Visual Analytics Limited provides advanced data analytics services for critical decisions to various companies.
Suhayl Zulfiquar
Chief Operating Officer of Datatecnics
Follow Suhayl Zulfiquar:
About Datatecnics: Datatecnics is an intelligent infrastructure firm revolutionizing global asset management with predictive analytics.
Sophie Newton
Co-Founder and COO of Brainlabs
Sophie Studied mathematics at Oxford and graduated top of her year, winning the Gibbs Prize. She first Worked in strategy consulting, Where She Advised FTSE 100 boards on Their executive remuneration packages, Ensuring alignment with company strategy. After a year at galas directing Reviews some of the UK’s Largest goings, Including the Royal Opera House, she Moved in to the exciting world of PPC. As a Director and Head of Innovation at Brainlabs, her task is to revolutionize paid search marketing through mathematical. Sophie has-been Invited to speak at SMX East and HeroConf, Where She Was named ‘most actionable speaker’, and has-been Recognised as a leading woman in advertising, Recently winning the Women of Tomorrow awards.
Follow Sophie Newton:
About Brainlabs: Brainlabs is a data-led marketing agency, helping businesses build experimentation-led marketing through display, CRO and analytics.
Mark Bond
Chief Operating Officer of Croud
– Customer focussed commercial leader with B2B and Consumer P&L experience in senior sales, marketing, strategy and customer operations roles. – Experience of large scale digital transformation and numerous “turnaround’ roles. – Involved in a number of ac
Follow Mark Bond:
About Croud: Croud is a digital marketing agency that provides services including SEO, PPC, content, programmatic, paid social, and analytics
Mark Bond
Chief Operating Officer of Croud
– Customer focussed commercial leader with B2B and Consumer P&L experience in senior sales, marketing, strategy and customer operations roles. – Experience of large scale digital transformation and numerous “turnaround’ roles. – Involved in a number of ac
Follow Mark Bond:
About Croud: Croud is a digital marketing agency that provides services including SEO, PPC, content, programmatic, paid social, and analytics
George Thomas
Chief Operating Officer of Xeneta
Follow George Thomas:
About Xeneta: Xeneta is the leading ocean freight rate benchmarking and market intelligence platform and index.
Andy Burns
Chief Operating Officer of Opensignal
Andy leads the telecoms industry side of the business with responsibility for sales, marketing and product development. Under his leadership, OpenSignal’s business with mobile operators and technology vendors has expanded across six continents. With over 25 years of telecoms industry experience, he has held senior commercial positions with several high-growth companies, most recently leading Global Sales & Marketing at Arieso (now Viavi Solutions).
Follow Andy Burns:
About Opensignal: Opensignal is a mobile analytics company.
Sacha Carton
Co-Founder & COO of Airfinity
Sacha is co-founder & COO at Airfinity – a science information and analytics company. He is a data, tech and media entrepreneur who previously co-founded ad pepper media (FRA: APM), Adbrain (sold to NSDQ: TTD), Scala Ventures and advisory firm Ogmenta and has been an investor, advisor and director in multiple media, data, adtech, PE and M&A companies in Europe and the US.
Follow Sacha Carton:
About Airfinity, Scala Ventures: Airfinity is a science information and analytics company
Francois Devillez
Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of AlphaSwap
Francois is a Blockchain consultant and entrepreneur. He previously consulted at Espeo Software, Larvol and various multinationals. Francois has a Master in Law from Free University of Brussels, a Master in Tax Management from Solvay Business School and a Master in Business Management from Vlerick Business School.
Follow Francois Devillez:
About AlphaSwap, Forbes, Forbes Business Council, LARVOL: AlphaSwap is an investment technology platform, bundling its analyst community’s best stock ideas into Data-as-a-Service
Mark Little
Co-Founder, COO & CMO of Pynk
Follow Mark Little:
About Pynk: Pynk is where everyday people invest better together.
Ian Hammond
COO of GeoSpock
Ian has a strong background in technology and business operations at both small and large scale, bringing 15+ years of experience from leadership roles in telco, media, and technology organizations as well as the UK public sector. He spent 5 years living in the Netherlands where he led a global team as SVP of Technology Operations at TomTom, responsible for delivering and supporting global digital services to millions of consumers as well as B2B services to some of the world’s largest companies. Most recently Ian held C-level positions within central government and a UK based procurement technology SME. Ian joins the GeoSpock management team to build and lead the operations function, delivering and supporting solutions for GeoSpock customers.
Follow Ian Hammond:
About GeoSpock: GeoSpock builds GeoSpock DB, the unique space-time analytics database that delivers rapid insights at a fraction of the cost.
Ian Hammond
COO of GeoSpock
Ian has a strong background in technology and business operations at both small and large scale, bringing 15+ years of experience from leadership roles in telco, media, and technology organizations as well as the UK public sector. He spent 5 years living in the Netherlands where he led a global team as SVP of Technology Operations at TomTom, responsible for delivering and supporting global digital services to millions of consumers as well as B2B services to some of the world’s largest companies. Most recently Ian held C-level positions within central government and a UK based procurement technology SME. Ian joins the GeoSpock management team to build and lead the operations function, delivering and supporting solutions for GeoSpock customers.
Follow Ian Hammond:
About GeoSpock: GeoSpock builds GeoSpock DB, the unique space-time analytics database that delivers rapid insights at a fraction of the cost.
Maxime Jeanniard
COO of OpenGamma
Maxime is Chief Operating Officer at OpenGamma. He is responsible for designing and implementing business operations, from Product and Marketing to Onboarding and Support. Previous to his role at OpenGamma, Maxime worked at HSBC in Derivatives Clearing Technology and, prior to that, spent 5 years at Calypso Technology. His roles have included Market Specialist in the Clearing and Collateral areas, and also Analyst positions at Calyon and Accenture.
Follow Maxime Jeanniard:
About OpenGamma: OpenGamma is the analytics company dedicated to reducing the costs of trading derivatives.
Scott Fischaber
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Analytics Engines
Follow Scott Fischaber:
About Analytics Engines, Smart Nano NI: Analytics Engines provides customers with fast and efficient processing of business and application data.
Duncan Mann
COO of Hoxton Analytics
Follow Duncan Mann:
About Hoxton Analytics: Cloud computer vision software to digitise and automate processes in physical spaces.
Mark Jameson
COO of BlueVenn
As CTO Mark has over 17 years’ experience in Solution and Application Development. Since 2000 Mark has presided over the development of Blue Sheep’s Extraction Transform and Load applications along with the creation of the UK Business Universe and its matching technologies. A veteran of multiple Marketing, Analysis and Modelling applications with Client Project Delivery also within his remit. Notably Mark has personal involvement with some of Blue Sheep’s largest clients and has overseen the delivery of the UK wide Public Sector B2B data environment.
Follow Mark Jameson:
About Blue Sheep, BlueVenn: BlueVenn’s software provides real-time analysis of customer data that create highly personalized and relevant marketing campaigns.
David Haines
Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of SteelEye
Follow David Haines:
About SteelEye: SteelEye provides Trade & Communications Oversight & Regulatory Reporting through an integrated & cloud-based platform.
Avinoam Baruch
Chief Operating Officer of Previsico
Avinoam (Avi) Baruch is the Chief Operating Officer at Previsico.
Follow Avinoam Baruch:
About Previsico: Previsico is a global provider of real-time, street level flood prediction, and analytical solutions, building round-the-clock resilience.
Agata Boczkowska
COO and Co-Founder of RAIS
Follow Agata Boczkowska:
About RAIS: The Customer Intelligence Business – helping D2C brands grow the value of their customers faster.
Pete Lee
COO of Purple
Pete is a qualified finance professional with in excess of 20 years experience. He has been responsible for leading various teams across finance, IT, administration, HR and professional services in a number of early stage software companies.
Follow Pete Lee:
About Purple: Purple is a WiFi analytics and marketing platform.
Pete Lee
COO of Purple
Pete is a qualified finance professional with in excess of 20 years experience. He has been responsible for leading various teams across finance, IT, administration, HR and professional services in a number of early stage software companies.
Follow Pete Lee:
About Purple: Purple is a WiFi analytics and marketing platform.
William Addison
Founder , Director & COO of SeeQuestor Ltd
William Addison is the Founder & Director at Scientific Venture Partners.
Follow William Addison:
About DUGUUD, Qbiotix, Scientific Venture Partners, SeeQuestor Ltd: SeeQuestor is designed to increase the speed at which police and security teams analyse video as part of investigations.
Kathryn Corrick
COO and Research Director of Represent
Follow Kathryn Corrick:
About Represent: Building the tools for a better democracy.
Paul Brothers
COO and Co-Founder of Convosphere
Paul is a seasoned sales and operations specialist with 5 years’ experience in the social media industry having set-up and run the successful EMEA operation for a US based social media listening platform company. Paul has an enviable network of contacts in the industry and has built an impressive sales pipeline which is already delivering a stream of new business and revenues.
Follow Paul Brothers:
About Convosphere: Convosphere offers an advanced analytics platform and supporting services organized into focused, vertical offerings.
Bob Spencer
COO of Eitx
Follow Bob Spencer:
About Eitx: Eitx provides value to the bottom line by applying adaptive analytics to challenging business challenges.
Rhian Hughes
Chief Operating Officer of HelloSoda
Rhian focuses on the commercial strategy and corporate management of the group with emphasis on our continuing global expansion. A corporate lawyer by trade and adding ex-military officer and weapons instructor to her background, Rhian is highly experienced in plate spinning and cracking a three-line whip. Of course, being a lawyer, Rhian pretends to play golf, and has a shiny set of clubs to prove it.
Follow Rhian Hughes:
About HelloSoda: HelloSoda is Designed To Predict Your Credit Rating And Potential For Fraud.
Mark Braddock
COO of RecordSure
In his long and varied financial services career, Mark has worked at a senior level in organisations including Zurich FS, Lloyds Banking Group, CSC, Sopra Steria and WNS. Landmark roles include Head of Customer Services, CIO, Managing Director of a software company, Global Client Director and European Sales Director. This gives Mark the breadth of experience needed to manage all commercial aspects of Recordsure. Key to the Commercial Director’s role is the challenge of taking to market an entirely new way for regulated organisations to address their customer interactions – a challenge Mark is uniquely qualified to deliver.
Follow Mark Braddock:
About RecordSure: RecordSure is a provider of monitoring solutions that allow the user to monitor compliance in the financial sector.
Annabel Dickson
COO of Makerble
Follow Annabel Dickson:
About Makerble: Makerble enables charities to track, review and share their impact
Tracy Bartlett
COO of Acuigen
Co-founder of Acuigen, Tracy coordinates our service delivery teams to ensure that their work is delivered to schedule. She ensures that our teams have the resources to respond to our clients’ needs at short notice and demonstrate the flexibility that is required for successful programmes and relationships. Tracy also oversees Acuigen’s MRS and ISO quality assurance programmes.
Follow Tracy Bartlett:
About Acuigen: Acuigen providing customer and client feedback services to blue chips and international professional services firms.
Tracy Bartlett
COO of Acuigen
Co-founder of Acuigen, Tracy coordinates our service delivery teams to ensure that their work is delivered to schedule. She ensures that our teams have the resources to respond to our clients’ needs at short notice and demonstrate the flexibility that is required for successful programmes and relationships. Tracy also oversees Acuigen’s MRS and ISO quality assurance programmes.
Follow Tracy Bartlett:
About Acuigen: Acuigen providing customer and client feedback services to blue chips and international professional services firms.
Jim Scott
COO of The Hackerati
Jim Scott is the President ResponseDM.
Follow Jim Scott:
About ResponseDM, The Hackerati: The Hackerati is a technology company of developers, designers, and scientists.
Jim Scott
COO of The Hackerati
Jim Scott is the President ResponseDM.
Follow Jim Scott:
About ResponseDM, The Hackerati: The Hackerati is a technology company of developers, designers, and scientists.
