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 VP’ operating in the Lifestyle space. If you think a VP’ 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.
Matt Hiscock
VP of Harry’s
Matt Hiscock is General Manager UK of Harry’s Inc., a company that manufactures and sells razor blades and grooming products to brands and consumers all over the world. Harry’s was founded in 2013 in the United States with its headquarters in New York City, Eisfeld, Germany and London, England. Matt joined Harry’s in 2016 and lead the brands launch into the UK market in June 2017. Formerly, Matt was Marketing Director for British clothing retailer, Boden, running all global commercial activity across eight dedicated markets. He spent seven years at leading online fashion store, ASOS, where he had multiple roles, most notably as Head of Operations overseeing international markets, web production, CX and visual merchandising. Previous to ASOS he worked at British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer for eleven years where he managed the Middle East and Central EU franchise businesses before joining French Connection, a UK-based global fashion and homeware label. Matt currently lives in Brighton with his fiancé, Emma, and two daughters.
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About Harry’s: Harry is a developer of an online platform used to sell shaving equipment and accessories for men.
Bo Ekberg
SVP International of NJOY
Bo Ekberg joined NJOY in early 2013 leading NJOY’s international expansion outside the US, having previously worked as a start-up entrepreneur in London. Prior to this Bo accumulated 20 years of international FMCG business experience in both Western and Central Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and Russia holding various senior Sales, Marketing and General Management positions during this time. Following service in the Danish Royal Life Guards, Bo earned his Masters in Economics and Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and his Executive MBA from INSEAD in France. A native of Denmark, Bo is married with two children and resides permanently in London, England.
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About NJOY: NJOY is a distributor and manufacturer of e-cigarettes and vaping products for dult smokers and vapers.
John Higson
Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Latin America of Avon Products
John Higson is Executive Vice President of Avon’s Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and Latin America (LATAM) regions. He has been responsible for end-to-end operations across EMEA since 2012, and assumed leadership of LATAM in January 2016. Mr. Higson is also a member of the Executive Committee. From 2014 through 2015, Mr. Higson served as Head of Global Field Operations, providing assessment and advisory support to the sales teams in Avon’s top 12 markets. Prior to this role, Mr. Higson was Senior Vice President, Global Commercial Operations. Before that, he was Senior Vice President of Global Direct Selling and Business Model Innovation, with responsibility for leading and developing Avon’s initiatives and strategies for its direct-selling channel. Mr. Higson has also served as: Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe; General Manager, Avon Poland; Head of Global Sales Development; and General Manager, Avon Hungary. Mr. Higson joined Avon U.K. in 1985 as a management Associate. He went on to hold the positions of Division Manager, Sales Planner and Regional Director before his appointment as General Manager, Avon Hungary in 1993. Mr. Higson studied Economics and Public Policy at the University of Leeds.
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About Avon Products: Avon Products, Inc. (Avon) is a manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products.
Gemma Brooks
VP Marketing of Dropit Shopping
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About Dropit Shopping: Dropit provides a digital handsfree shopping solution for malls and central shopping districts, delivering bags from store to door.
Jon Shimp
Vice President Risk Management of Louis Vuitton
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About Avivia Health, Kin Wellness, Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton is a French fashion house and luxury retail company.
