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 Service Industry 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.
Duncan Anderson
Managing Director of Willis Towers Watson
Follow Duncan Anderson:
About Willis Towers Watson: Willis Towers Watson is a global advisory and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth.
Paul Morris
Non Executive Director of Willis Towers Watson
Follow Paul Morris:
About : Willis Towers Watson is a global advisory and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth.
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.
Follow Neil McRae:
About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Steve Wilson
Consumer Digital Director of BT Global Services
Follow Steve Wilson:
About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
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.
Follow Howard Watson:
About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Guillaume Sampic
Strategy Director and Internet of Things of BT Global Services
Follow Guillaume Sampic:
About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Robert Milton
Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Airlines
Robert Milton is a Member of the Board of Directors at United Continental Holdings Inc. since April 2016. Robert was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. and was Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. Having joined Air Canada in 1992 in a consulting capacity, Robert moved from the role of Senior Director of Scheduling to Vice President of Scheduling and Product Management, Senior Vice President of Marketing and In-Flight Service and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Robert became President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada in 1999. Robert is currently the Lead Director of Air Lease Corporation, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and a Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc. Robert was a past Member of the Board of Directors of US Airways, Inc., and was also a past Chairman of the Board of Governors of IATA (The International Air Transport Association). Robert graduated in 1983 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Management.
Follow Robert Milton:
About Air Canada: United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 5,000 flights each day to more than 370 destinations throughout the world.
Toby Horry
Brand and Content Director of TUI Group
Toby Horry is the brand and content director at TUI.
Follow Toby Horry:
About TUI Group: TUI Group is an international tourism and hospitality organization that offers a range of tour, flights, cruises, and more.
David Burgess
Director of Deloitte Digital
David Burgess is Managing Director at Reading Room.
Follow David Burgess:
About Deloitte Digital: Deloitte Digital offers strategic, mobile, digital content, digital ERP, web, and digital design, and communication solutions.
Andrew Michael
CEO, Director & Founder of Bark.com
Follow Andrew Michael:
About Bark.com: A new better way to buy services online
Adrian James
Technical Director of Worldline
Follow Adrian James:
About Worldline: Worldline is the platform that provides payments and transactional services.
Ianina Lucca
Growth Director of Skyscanner
Ianina leads Marketing Foundations Tribe for Skyscanner across both Product and Marketing. Previous to Skyscanner she was Director of Growth at Just Eat and before that she held multiple roles in Marketing and Product at Hotels.com (Expedia Inc.). Ianina holds a MBA from Wharton and a MA in International Studies from Lauder Institute. When she’s not in a plane for work or pleasure, she loves spending time with her family and teaching her young children how to bake and ski.
Follow Ianina Lucca:
About Skyscanner: Skyscanner operates as a trips meta-search engine company.
Will Wynne
Managing Director, Co-Founder & Chief Executive of Arena Online Ltd
Follow Will Wynne:
About Arena Online Ltd, Smart Pension: Flowers & gifts, London, UK & Europe
Martin Bloom
Non Executive Director of Renesola Pty Ltd.
Follow Martin Bloom:
About Renesola Pty Ltd.: ReneSola is a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and PV modules
Mauricio Lazala
Deputy Director & Head of Europe Office of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Mauricio, a Colombian & UK national, joined the Resource Centre in 2006. Until Feb. 2011 he served as Senior Researcher and Head of Latin America & Middle East. He oversees the Centre’s Latin America and Eastern Europe & Central Asia researchers, is involved in the production of briefings and research materials, and manages work streams such as the “Business, Conflict & Peace” project. Mauricio also co-ordinates joint initiatives with Resource Centre partners, and led the recent redevelopment of the Resource Centre’s website. Mauricio previously served as law clerk at International Criminal Court, Programme Manager at Mexican Commission for the Protection & Defence of Human Rights, and Outreach Coordinator at B’Tselem (Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories). Mauricio has published various articles on business & human rights. In 2014 he was invited to join the board of director at EIRIS – Empowering Responsible Investment. Mauricio has a Law degree (honours) from University of Cambridge, and a BA in Political Sciences and History from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is fluent in Spanish, English & Hebrew.
Follow Mauricio Lazala:
About Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is dedicated to advancing human rights in business and eradicating abuse.
Phil Bloomer
Executive Director of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Phil became Executive Director of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre in September 2013. Based at the Centre’s London headquarters, Phil is responsible for leading the global organization, delivering the mission and strategic priorities, and ensuring effective management of programme, personnel, finance, and administration. Prior to joining the Resource Centre Phil was Director of Campaigns and Policy at Oxfam GB, where he was responsible for a team of 170 staff working across policy, advocacy, programme and campaigns. His team’s priorities were food justice, humanitarian protection and assistance in conflict zones, and the provision of essential health and education for all. Previously he was head of Oxfam International’s Make Trade Fair, and Access to Medicines campaigns. Prior to joining Oxfam, Phil spent 11 years in Latin America and worked on human rights dimensions of business, including in food security, resource extraction; mega-projects; and business relations with public and private security in repressive environments.
Follow Phil Bloomer:
About Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is dedicated to advancing human rights in business and eradicating abuse.
Gen Ashley
Director of Women Who Code
Follow Gen Ashley:
About TechKnow Day, Women Who Code: Women Who Code is a global organization dedicated to inspiring women to pursue and excel in technology careers.
Nick Fincham
Strategy and Regulation Director of Thames Water
Before joining Thames Water, Nick spent six years as Director of Economic Regulation and Competition Policy at the Civil Aviation Authority.Prior to that, he held senior positions at a number of economic regulators (OFFER, Ofgas, Ofgem and Postcomm).He has also run his own consultancy business, providing economic and strategic advice to the UK Government and economic regulators.
Follow Nick Fincham:
About Thames Water: Thames Water Utilities Limited is a U.K.-based water and sewerage company that provides clean and take away waste water.
Richard Aylard
External Affairs and Sustainability Director of Thames Water
He leads the company’s engagement with external stakeholders, including Government, the Environment Agency and the Consumer Council for Water, and is the principal spokesperson with the media and other audiences.From 1998 to 2002, he worked at Burson-Marsteller, an international corporate communications company. From 1985 to 1996, Richard worked in the Prince of Wales’s office, initially on secondment from the Royal Navy. There he was Private Secretary, Treasurer and Head of Household from 1991 to 1996.From 1974 Richard served in the Royal Navy. He held a wide variety of appointments, including service in HMS Invincible during the Falklands campaign, and retired in 1988 in the rank of Commander. Richard is a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, an Ambassador for WWF (UK) and an Associate of Forum for the Future.He holds a degree in Applied Zoology and Mathematics from the University of Reading, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management.As Sustainability Director, Richard is the Executive team member with responsibility for environmental and social issues.
Follow Richard Aylard:
About Thames Water: Thames Water Utilities Limited is a U.K.-based water and sewerage company that provides clean and take away waste water.
Andrew Smith
Business Development Director of 4me
Follow Andrew Smith:
About 4me: 4me is an IT and Enterprise Service Management & Workflow application, providing complete visibility and control of service cost & quality.
Jane Kingston
Member of the Board of Directors of National Express Group
Jane Kingston served as Group Human Resources Director for Compass Group PLC from 2006 until her retirement in 2016. Prior to this, she served as Group Human Resources Director for BPB PLC from 2002 until its acquisition by Saint Gobain SA in 2006. Jane Kingston earlier career in HR has spanned a variety of sectors including engineering and building materials with Enodis PLC and Blue Circle PLC (now Lafarge SA) and garment and textiles with Coats Viyella PLC, as well as the British car industry. JaneKingston has significant international experience, having had responsibility for the people agenda in most parts of the world at some point during her career.
Follow Jane Kingston:
About : National Express is one of the most recognised brands in the UK.
Jorge Cosmen
Member of the Board of Directors of National Express Group
Jorge Cosmen was appointed to the Board at the time of the ALSA transaction. He was appointed Deputy Company Chairman in October 2008. Jorge Cosmen was Corporate Manager for the ALSA Group from 1995, becoming Chairman in 1999. Between 1986 and 1995, he worked in sales, distribution and banking. He is a Business Administration graduate and has an International MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid. He is a Non-Executive Director of Bankia, as well as of other private companies.
Follow Jorge Cosmen:
About : National Express is one of the most recognised brands in the UK.
John Armitt
Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Express Group
Sir John Armitt is chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body responsible for the venues, infrastructure and transport for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since November 2012 he has also been a member of the Airports Commission, which is to present options to the government to maintain the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation. Sir John has extensive experience in the construction and transport sectors. Previously, he was chief executive of Network Rail (2002–2007) and of Railtrack plc (from 2001). From 1986 to 1993 he was chairman of Laing’s international and civil engineering divisions, a company he joined as a graduate in 1966. From 1993 to 1997 he was chief executive of Union Railways, the company responsible for development of the high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link. In 1997 he became chief executive of Costain, a position he held until 2001. Sir John is chairman of National Express Group and of City and Guilds. He is also deputy chairman of the Berkeley Group and a member of the board of Transport for London. He is a former chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and vice-president of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Follow John Armitt:
About Institution of Civil Engineers: National Express is one of the most recognised brands in the UK.
Michael Roberts
Communications Strategy Director of 72andSunny
Michael is Communication Strategy Director at 72andSunny in Amsterdam. He blends his strategy and media expertise with passion and enthusiasm for data, technology and internet culture. He has led communications strategy for Google software and hardware, and eBay. Most recently has been crafting digital transformation strategy for IKEA and helping fintech company Klarna develop a comms strategy focussed on fame and conversation.
Follow Michael Roberts:
About 72andSunny: 72andSunny drives transactions by making brands matter in culture. They have offices in Los Angeles and Amsterdam.
Mark Jenkins
Experience Design Director of 72andSunny
Mark is Experience Design Director at 72andSunny in Amsterdam. He believes in planning strategically to design across the full lifecycle of the UX process. Designing with informed decisions, Mark understands that a fantastic experience is one where the combination of how things look, read and work end up providing true value for people, where the best design is with intent.
Follow Mark Jenkins:
About 72andSunny: 72andSunny drives transactions by making brands matter in culture. They have offices in Los Angeles and Amsterdam.
Sheeraz Ahmed
Operations Director of ONLICAR
Follow Sheeraz Ahmed:
About ONLICAR: They use Formula1 techniques to deliver scalable solutions that create actionable value for our customers.
Sarah Colwell
Director Fire Suppression Testing & Certification of Building Research Establishment
Sarah is a Chemical Engineer who has worked in the fire and explosion safety area for over thirty years. She is the Director of the Fire Suppression testing and certification group at BRE Global, who provide LPCB and CPR approvals for fire suppression products. Sarah is a member of many of the National and European standards committees in this area, and currently chairs the European standards Fire Sprinkler Pumpset working group.
Follow Sarah Colwell:
About Building Research Establishment: Building Research Establishment provides expertise in independent research to deliver social, environmental, and economic goals.
Volker Buscher
Director of Arup
Volker Buscher is a Director of Arup and the leader of their IT and Communications Systems practice. A project director for public and private sector clients in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Arfrica and SE Asia. Volker is part of the Future of Cities leadership team in Arup. A multi-disciplinary group developing strategies and solutions for cities striving to deliver a great place to live and work, decoupled from critical resource constrains. Volker is a member of the Smart London Board advising the Mayor of London regarding the role of technology in the economic, environmental and social development of our great city and a member of the national Smart City Forum chaired by UK Ministers Clarke and Willets.
Follow Volker Buscher:
About Arup: Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services.
Emma Wilson
Director of Client Operations of First Protocol
Follow Emma Wilson:
About First Protocol: First Protocol is an international events agency.
Sophia Petrides
Global Account Director of First Protocol
Sophia has over 18 years’ experience working in events within investment banking and is highly regarded within the industry for her operational and team development expertise. Sophia has built a strong international network throughout her career, which has proven invaluable in her role as Global Account Director at First Protocol, where her objective is to develop a global strategic approach to enhance the client experience and align best practice across the regions.
Follow Sophia Petrides:
About First Protocol: First Protocol is an international events agency.
Oliver Bryssau
Non Executive Director of Origin Broadband
Follow Oliver Bryssau:
About Consumer Choices, Origin Broadband: Origin Broadband is an award-winning Internet Service Provider
Nigel Pusey
Director of essDOCS
Follow Nigel Pusey:
About essDOCS: essDOCS enables paperless trade; focusing on digitizing paper-heavy shipping, trade and logistic processes.
Richard Cook
Services Director of GCI Com
A highly-experienced, successful business leader, Richard is largely responsible for spotting market opportunities for new products and services, as well as overseeing the performance of the business and looking after certain key customers. He was the Founder and Managing Director of Blue Chip Data Systems – which was acquired by GCI in July 2017 – and is now a member of the Executive Team at GCI.
Follow Richard Cook:
About GCI Com: GCI Telecom is a UK-based independent telecoms and data services company delivering cloud hosting and managed-cloud-solutions.
Michael Howard
Founder and Managing Director of Frontier Software
Michael founded Frontier Software in 1983 to deliver Human Resource and Payroll software from the first office in Melbourne, Australia. Michael concentrates on worldwide expansion that now includes offices in 7 countries. In May 2014, Michael celebrated the 31 year company anniversary in Melbourne, Australia.
Follow Michael Howard:
About Frontier Software: Frontier Software is Provider of integrated Human Capital Management & Payroll software/services.
David Sommer
Co-Founder & Product Director of Kudos
Follow David Sommer:
About Kudos, Project Counter: Kudos offers web-based tools and services to help researchers, institutions, publishers, and funders increase the impact of their research.
Melinda Kenneway
Executive Director & Co-Founder of Kudos
Follow Melinda Kenneway:
About Kudos: Kudos offers web-based tools and services to help researchers, institutions, publishers, and funders increase the impact of their research.
Charlie Rapple
Director & Co-founder of Kudos
I’m a geek marketer, and have spent my whole career at the cutting edge of the scholarly communications sector. I have an insatiable interest in new techniques and technologies, about which I speak and write regularly. I’m passionate about breaking down barriers and improving relationships between everyone involved in research dissemination, and as such am an enthusiastic volunteer for the industry association UKSG. I am also an Associate Editor of Learned Publishing. I hold a BA from the University of Bristol and a postgraduate MDip in Marketing. Prior to co-founding Kudos, I was a strategic marketing consultant with TBI Communications, and had previously held various management roles at CatchWord, Ingenta and Publishing Technology.
Follow Charlie Rapple:
About Kudos: Kudos offers web-based tools and services to help researchers, institutions, publishers, and funders increase the impact of their research.
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.
William Lankston
Managing Director of Timpson Direct of Timpson
Follow William Lankston:
About Timpson: Timpson is the UK’s leading retail service provider.
Henry Watts
Managing Director of Atalian Servest
Having gained accounts training with BDO, Henry headed a successful catering company for over 15 years before joining Servest in January 2013 as part of the acquisition of 7 Day Catering Limited. Following a period of integration and succession management within the Catering Division, Henry became head of mergers and acquisitions for the Group in February 2016.
Follow Henry Watts:
About Atalian Servest, Atalian Servest: Servest Group is a multi-service facilities management provider.
Les Turner
Managing Director of Cleaning of Atalian Servest
Les joined Servest as part of the acquisition of Turner’s Cleaning and Support Services in 2011, a company he had established and ran for more than 30 years. Les heads up the recently established Strategic Accounts team and has utilised his extensive experience in operations and sales to become the driving force of the growth of the business into the corporate and public sectors.
Follow Les Turner:
About Atalian Servest: Servest Group is a multi-service facilities management provider.
Martin Wren-Hilton
Director of Wireless Innovation of TalkTalk
Follow Martin Wren-Hilton:
About TalkTalk, Talktalk Group: TalkTalk is a phone and broadband company that offers fixed and mobile telephony and broadband services to consumers.
Jonathan Burrows
Managing Director of ASK4
Founded Ask4 in 2000 to provide telecommunications services to multiple-tenanted buildings. Ask4 has grown from a start-up with a single employee working in a basement to a respected, award winning company with over one hundred staff with revenues expected to top £14 million in the current year. In 2009 took the strategic decision to form a subsidiary, Ask4Business, to focus on the provision of managed telecoms. services to multiple-tenanted buildings. Through organic growth, continued investment and acquisition, Ask4Business has growth 100% year on year since its inception. Responsible for group strategy and business plan execution with a particular focus on finance, customer service and technology. Specialties: Large scale IP networks, business start-ups, company law, corporate governance best practice, the new-new thing…
Follow Jonathan Burrows:
About ASK4: ASK4 was formed in 2000 specifically to focus on the delivery of telecommunications services
Alex Ayers
Sales Director – Network Solutions of Gamma
Alex has had a long 20 Year+ career in creating and delivering managed services that leverage advanced and disruptive technologies. He joined Gamma in 2012 following the acquisition of his managed services business Varidion and now heads their Enterprise markets business unit. With a passion for delivering what Customers actually want and buy, he specialises in helping Customers unlock the full potential from their communications investments.
Follow Alex Ayers:
About Gamma: Gamma is a leading supplier of voice, data and mobile products and services in the UK.
Steven Lowe
Product Director Mobile of Gamma
Steve has over 23 years’ experience in the mobile telecommunications industry. Having held senior operational and product development roles at BT Cellnet and One 2 One, Steve established and led the Mobile Virtual Network Operator businesses of Kingston Communications and BT. For the past 14 years, he has provided hands-on consultancy services to a variety of mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operators across Europe, including Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone. Steve joined Gamma in July 2018 to lead the development of its mobile business.
Follow Steven Lowe:
About Gamma: Gamma is a leading supplier of voice, data and mobile products and services in the UK.
David Macfarlane
Managing Director – Direct of Gamma
David joined Gamma in 2012 following Gamma’s acquisition of his managed services business Varidion Limited and now heads up Gamma’s direct solutions arm. Prior to this, David was CTO at Sirocom and laterally the Group CTO at Azzurri Communications. He has gained over 30 years’ experience in creating and delivering managed communications services. Before becoming a supplier of services, David held senior IT roles in the NHS and major city law firm.
Follow David Macfarlane:
About Gamma: Gamma is a leading supplier of voice, data and mobile products and services in the UK.
Geoff Bennett
Director, Solutions & Technology of Infinera
Geoff Bennett received a B. Sc. in polymer engineering from Loughborough University, United Kingdom, in 1983, and worked as a materials research scientist before moving into the networking area in 1986 with router pioneer, Proteon. He has worked in technical roles in the telecommunications industry for over 25 years at companies such as Wellfleet, FORE Systems, and Marconi, where he held the position of Distinguished Engineer. He has been with Infinera for eight years and is a director of solutions and technology, responsible for technology evangelism and technical sales support. He has been the author or co-author of numerous papers, and the author of Designing TCP/IP Internetworks (VNR).
Follow Geoff Bennett:
About Infinera: Infinera Corporation provides optical networking systems based on photonic integration technology in the United States.
Serge Lubensky
Founder | Executive Managing Director of ReTool Ventures
Serge is a geek who enjoys finding pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. Along the way, he managed to become a successful entrepreneur with a track record of starting, growing and selling technology companies. Serge grew up in a family of scientists and artists. Not smart enough to become a scientist and not creative enough to be an artist, Serge chose to pursue a computer engineering degree in his hometown of Minsk strictly to avoid being drafted into the Russian Army during the Soviets’ invasion of Afghanistan. Serge’s first successful exit, from a failing 70-year old startup called the USSR, occurred in 1988. Fresh off the boat, Serge joined a computer company in Queens, NY, developing software for service contractors. Architecting and supporting a system that businesses relied on allowed Serge to learn the intricacies of the commercial repair and maintenance trades and ways to apply technology to solve real-life challenges for business owners and their field technicians. In the process, Serge and the company’s founder, Steven Gottfried, became friends and business partners and started to formulate plans for their next business venture. In 1999, Steven and Serge founded a cloud-based facilities management platform, ServiceChannel, with the goal of transforming the highly inefficient multi-billion dollar commercial repair and maintenance industry. As with their previous company, which was successfully sold, Steven was the idea generator and a master salesman, while Serge worked behind the scenes as CTO to help ServiceChannel achieve a dominant position in the global facilities management marketplace. In 2016, Serge moved to London to accelerate ServiceChannel’s expansion in Europe. In the summer of 2017, Accel, an elite technology VC firm, invested $54M in ServiceChannel continuing to fuel its growth and allowing Steven and Serge to realize a highly successful exit. Now Steven and Serge run ReTool Ventures, a technology investment firm.
Follow Serge Lubensky:
About Equip ID, ReTool Ventures: ReTool Ventures is a new technology investment firm that seeks to retool the facilities management industry by curating a “digital toolbox”
Tom Fitzherbert
CEO and Director of Fast2Fibre
Tom Fitzherbert is a highly-experienced CEO within the research and technology field and has a proven track record of establishing and building innovative and entrepreneurial start-up companies into successful businesses.
Follow Tom Fitzherbert:
About Fast2Fibre: Fast2Fibre is a provider of a highly efficient, cost-effective process for upgrading copper telecoms and power cables worldwide.
Kevin Newport
Member of Board of Directors of Team Telecom Group
Kevin Newport joined the group in October 2015 when he was appointed CEO of Affini Technology Ltd. Kevin has a track record that includes senior roles in technology and media sectors with: BBC, Technicolor, Siemens Ernst &Young and Capgemini Group.He brings high level strategic management and leadership experience with telcos and “Big Four” global management consultancies. He has a world class knowledge of telecoms, broadcast and professional services gained in a career spanning over 30 years.
Follow Kevin Newport:
About : Operating in markets ranging from the emergency services and transport, to mobile networks and airports, each of our companies has a
Ian Carr
Member of Board of Directors of Team Telecom Group
Ian has over 30 years’ experience in the wireless industry, embracing manufacturing,operations and commercial management, and now oversees the growth and expanding global reputation of Simoco Group.Since joining the company in 2008, Ian has led Simoco Group to increasing success around the world, including a growing presence in the US, together with the development of cutting edge new technologies manufactured in the UK.
Follow Ian Carr:
About : Operating in markets ranging from the emergency services and transport, to mobile networks and airports, each of our companies has a
Peter Burridge
Chairman of the Board of Director of Team Telecom Group
Peter became Chairman of TTG in May 2008 having previously worked as group managing director since 2003.Prior to this he spent many years in the technology investments and restructuring sectors in various senior roles.
Follow Peter Burridge:
About : Operating in markets ranging from the emergency services and transport, to mobile networks and airports, each of our companies has a
Lucy Kaczmarska
Operations Director of Kids Planet
Follow Lucy Kaczmarska:
About Kids Planet: Kids Planet is a children’s nurseries group
Kev Emery
Director of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Kev Emery is the Head of Optimization and Certification within the Chip Centre of Excellence at Discover. In this role, Kev is responsible for certification, outsourcing and managing various products within the Chip Centre of Excellence. Kev has spent nearly 15 years working in the payments Industry and has had various roles for payment schemes and technology vendors supporting Acquirers, Issuers and Merchants.
Follow Kev Emery:
About Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL is a global independent safety science company offering expertise across five key strategic businesses: Product Safety, Environment,
Kev Emery
Director of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Kev Emery is the Head of Optimization and Certification within the Chip Centre of Excellence at Discover. In this role, Kev is responsible for certification, outsourcing and managing various products within the Chip Centre of Excellence. Kev has spent nearly 15 years working in the payments Industry and has had various roles for payment schemes and technology vendors supporting Acquirers, Issuers and Merchants.
Follow Kev Emery:
About Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL is a global independent safety science company offering expertise across five key strategic businesses: Product Safety, Environment,
Colin Wallis
Executive Director of Kantara Initiative
Being based in New Zealand adds significant challenges of distance and time, but that hasn’t hindered Colin noticeably. With typical Kiwi pragmatism, he has cultivated an enviable understanding of North American and European identity programs, and a corresponding network of relationships with key stakeholders around the world.
Follow Colin Wallis:
About Kantara Initiative: Kantara Initiative establishes new status as Autonomous Corporation. Kantara Initiative has changed its entity type by filing Articles.
David Bezem
Non-Executive Director of Harvey Nash plc
David joined the Board of Focusrite in November 2014 bringing with him more than 25 years of experience of providing merger and acquisitions and general corporate finance advice to UK small and mid-market public and private companies. Most recently he was a Managing Director at Altium Corporate Finance between 2009 and 2011 and, prior to that, a Managing Director at Close Brothers Corporate Finance where he worked between 1999 and 2008. David qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1984. Currently, David is a Non-Executive Director at Harvey Nash Group Plc where he is also Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
Follow David Bezem:
About : Harvey Nash operates as a global employment agency in London, United Kingdom.
Olga Fahey
Director of The Uncommon Practice
Follow Olga Fahey:
About The Uncommon Practice: The Uncommon Practice develops products design to supports small and medium-sized enterprises.
Paul Momtahan
Director of Optical Solution Marketing of Coriant
Based in the UK, Paul is responsible for the solution marketing of Coriant’s metro and long haul optical solutions globally. Prior to this he has held a number of product line management, technical sales and marketing roles focusing on packet-optical transport. Before joining Tellabs, Paul held a variety of product management and marketing positions at Neos/SSE Telecom, FORE Systems and Madge Networks. Paul has engineering and management degrees from Cambridge and Stanford universities.
Follow Paul Momtahan:
About Coriant, Infinera: Coriant is telecommunication company that operates as a supplier of dynamic metro-to-core transport solutions.
Becky Sage
Director of Acceleration of EDUCATE Ventures Research
Follow Becky Sage:
About EDUCATE Ventures Research: Educate serves as a catalyst for the development of EdTech products and services that are supported by facts.
Ian Hobson
Co-Founder, CEO & Managing Director of ChargeBox
Ian has set and delivered the mission and objectives for ChargeBox which has seen the company grow rapidly. Involved since the companies inception, Ian took over control of the company and formulated the change in strategy driven by the smart phone market and Olympics in 2012. Ian is passionate about ChargeBox and passionate about bringing free charging to everyone who needs it everywhere they need it. A graduate of Imperial College, Ian’s career has taken him from Accenture to Hambrecht & Quist and Tibco, all the time delivering rapid growth and businsess development.
Follow Ian Hobson:
About ChargeBox: ChargeBox They pride Theirselves for providing the easiest to use, most trusted and innovative charging solutions for public spaces.
Daniel Axsäter
Co-Founder & Managing Director of bySTORED
Daniel Axsäter works as a Co-Founder and Managing Director at bySTORED.
Follow Daniel Axsäter:
About bySTORED, CronLab Sweden AB, CronLab Sweden AB: Taking the stress out of storage since 2013
Mark Sage
Executive Director of Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance
Mark Sage is the founder and managing director of Sagey11 Ltd. His company providers strategic and operational consulting on marketing and business development, focusing on building lasting partnerships especially for technology start-up and scale-up companies. With a background in telecoms (15 years with Orange) he has also worked with and led various Alliances and Associations. Mark is currently the Executive Director of the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA). The AREA is the only global non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to widespread adoption of interoperable AR-enabled enterprise systems AREA. With a focus on creating value and ROI for its members his goal is to develop a robust and active ecosystem for AR within the enterprise. His background includes a strong interest in mobile, AR, VR, and IoT and he is excited to work with AR customers, providers and research organizations.
Follow Mark Sage:
About Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance: AREA Webinar: Forecasting Enterprise AR Growth
Peter Levison
Senior Marketing Director – Downstream Processing of Pall Life Sciences
Follow Peter Levison:
About Pall Life Sciences: Pall Life Sciences provides cutting-edge products and services to meet the demanding needs of customers discovering, developing.
Matthew McStravick
Creative Director of Deepr
Follow Matthew McStravick:
About Deepr: Deepr is a research lab that tackling culture, service design, and training problems.
Fiona McIntosh
Creative Director, Co-Founder of Blow
Follow Fiona McIntosh:
About Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A, Blow: Blow is an online platform that provides its users with a range of beauty services.
Aneesh Sharma
Director of consean
Helping design and govern blockchain, smartcontracts and hyperledger based business use cases. Aneesh is a techno commercial expert with 20 years of global experience. He serves as the board of directors of Consean and has incubated two startups. He consult in highly converged and niche domains of business, process, data and service designs like blockchains, smart contract and hyperledger and is also instrumental in incubating conseio a cloud-based education delivery platform, which after incubation stage will be handed over to professional CEO to run and manage. With over 20 years of professional experience Aneesh has worked with some of the top organisations like IBM Global Business services, Microsoft, EMC (Now Dell / OpenText) and have hands on work experience in delivering consulting engagements for geographically and culturally diverse banking and non-banking organisations. He is a certified blockchain professional and currently, working on designing business services using blockchain, smartcontracts and hyperledger frameworks.
Follow Aneesh Sharma:
About : Consean is a business consulting firm. We specialise in designing human regulated machine automated business services.
Sarah Aramesh
Co-Founder, Director of Josla
Follow Sarah Aramesh:
About Josla: Work Movement uses power of people and business to create opportunities for everyone to achieve happiness, equality and success from their W
Jan Hendrik Witte
Director, Quantitative Research of Record Currency Management
Jan Hendrik Witte is a numerical analyst who has developed a number of new numerical algorithms in the area of optimal stochastic control. Since leaving academia, Witte has been working as an FX quant in finance. Witte is generally interested in the areas of numerical mathematical finance, systematic trading, and portfolio optimisation. Together with GreyMaths, Witte is building deep learning technologies for the use in trading and investing.
Follow Jan Hendrik Witte:
About Record Currency Management: Record Currency Management is a currency management firm.
Omer Brakin
Co-Founder, Director of La-Terra
Follow Omer Brakin:
About La-Terra: La-Terra provides end-to-end services to clients throughout the entire investment life cycle.
Stuart Knight
Commercial Director of Quintessential Promotions
Follow Stuart Knight:
About Quintessential Promotions: Quintessential Promotions focuses on events production, experiential, events, branding, and conferences.
David Horrex
Client Engagement Director of JDP Procurement Services
Follow David Horrex:
About JDP Procurement Services: JDP offers procurement solutions that are established, progressive, and compelling in both the public and private sectors.
Jon Sloper
Director, Co-Founder of Alacrify Foundation CIC
Follow Jon Sloper:
About Alacrify Foundation CIC, PYXI Group: Alacrify Foundation develops charitable and voluntary work by Alacrify Limited and its Directors.
Francois Le Palec
Director of Service Delivery of Glue Networks
Francois is responsible for all aspects of Service Delivery for Glue in Europe and works closely with our European customers. Prior to Glue, Francois held the position of Director, Digital Media Operations at MTV Networks International in London – with a posting in New York – creating and supporting all int’l content production and delivery workflows for 164 territories across Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. Francois began his career at MTV Networks France as Department Manager for Internet and Mobile, followed by a position in London where he oversaw digital media and broadcast technical developments across the EMEA region as Project Manager for MTV Networks Europe.
Follow Francois Le Palec:
About Glue Networks: Glue Networks provides an enterprise-grade cloud networking service for service providers and value-added resellers.
Calan Horsman
Founder & Managing Director of Loogun
Follow Calan Horsman:
About Loogun: The Loogun is a hand-held motorised device that cleans above and below the waterline in a toilet.
Philip Barker
Director of M&A of Oaklins
Follow Philip Barker:
About Oaklins: Investment banking and financial advisory firm that provides M&A, corporate finance, debt advisory, growth equity and ECM services.
Dave West
Founder & Commercial Director of Drainology
Follow Dave West:
About Drainology: Drainology is a waste management company.
Alexander Green
Managing Director of Zenchi
Follow Alexander Green:
About Zenchi: Digital Asset Consultation Firm.
Adrian Mills
Advisor / Director of Waste into Water
Follow Adrian Mills:
About : Waste into Water aims to provide solutions to waste waters in mobile locations.
Chris Lang
Client Services Director of Acuigen
Chris works with our clients to deliver research projects that support new business strategies and marketing initiatives. He ensures that our clients are able to use the presentations, reports and our interactive real time reporting systems to improve their business performance. Chris has extensive experience in researching and analysing large data sets to deliver actionable insight.
Follow Chris Lang:
About Acuigen: Acuigen providing customer and client feedback services to blue chips and international professional services firms.
Penny Andrews
Founder, Director, and Product Strategy & Delivery of People Make
Follow Penny Andrews:
About People Make: People Make focuses on helping companies to make digital products and services.
Chris May
Founder & Managing Director of Mayden
The founder and managing director of Mayden. Formerly from a manufacturing background he has dedicated his career to the healthcare sector for the last 21 years, initially as a hospital manager and then as a management consultant specialising in information analysis and modelling to support strategic reviews and business cases. Chris is passionate about maximising the opportunities presented by the internet both to provide joined up healthcare and to increase the cost-effectiveness of healthcare IT. This is now his primary area of interest.
Follow Chris May:
About Mayden: Mayden provides end-to-end managed web applications and bespoke system development to the healthcare sector.
Julia Casson
Director of Board Insight
Julia Casson started her career as a Contracts Administrator with the Plessey Company whilst studying for the Chartered Secretary (ICSA) qualification in her spare time. There followed a 3 year spell as Executive Assistant at the Life Offices’ Association (which later merged with the British Insurer’s Association to form the ABI). After qualifying, she was appointed Assistant Secretary of AGB Research and later promoted to Deputy Secretary. She was elected a Fellow of the ICSA in 1987. Julia moved to Inchcape plc in 1989 and spent 10 years there, first as Assistant Secretary and later as Deputy Secretary. During this time the company evolved from a diverse overseas trader into a more focussed international marketing and services group and FRSE 100 constituent. The downturn of the group’s key markets of South East Asia, South America and Russia in 1998 led to the break up of the group and she was asked to stay on to work on the disposal of all non-automotive businesses (around 1,000 legal entities). In 1999, Julia moved to Pearson plc as Company Secretary, where she remained for 4 years. This was a period of key change for Pearson which included a refocusing on core activities, and thus high M&A activity, plus a US listing. In 2003 Julia left to pursue an independent career in corporate governance consultancy and incorporated as Julia Casson Ltd in 2006, changing the company’s name to Board Insight Ltd in 2009 to reflect the greater involvement of partners and associates in the business. Julia is a policy Adviser to ICSA and a member of its Company Secretaries Forum. She chairs the ICSA Forum’s EU Committee, leading the ICSA’s lobbying on European matters relating to corporate governance and company law. Julia served as a lay member of Council of the University of Kent from 2003-2009, as a member of its Finance and Resources Committee and of a number of University working groups concerning executive appointments and governance. She also served for 2 years on the Advisory Group of the Higher Education National Mentoring Scheme, which established the Scheme nationally, having been a mentee on the pilot programme. Always a keen linguist, she completed the Institute of Linguists post-graduate diploma in translation in 2002 and also speaks German and Italian to A level standard.
Follow Julia Casson:
About Board Insight: Board Insight is a corporate governance consultancy.
Phil Oram
Director of Premier Sustain
Phil Oram is a director at Premier Sustain. He also holds director positions at Premier Moves and Premier Systems IT. Phil is a former project manager at Premier Moves and quantity surveyor at Morrison Utility Services.
Follow Phil Oram:
About Premier Sustain: Premier Sustain provides services for the management and sustainable clearance of office furniture, IT, and redundant electrical equipment.
Charles Ewen
Director of Information Technology & CIO of Met Office
Charles Ewen responsible for the development and implementation of our ICT Strategy and for the internal technical teams within the Technology Information Services Directorate – and work closely with our Science teams to operate our High Performance Computing capability. The Met Office relies heavily upon cutting-edge IT to improve the quality of forecast services and increasingly to make those services accessible and effective for customers and the Public. I have worked for the Met Office in a number of senior technology roles since 2008 and, prior to that, worked in the Business-to-Business online retail and distribution industry. During this time I used relevant technologies to transform businesses from traditional retail approaches to being internet and technology capable. As well as a number of consulting appointments, I worked within the Premier Farnell group of companies for over 10 years. I have run my own small technology company and started my career as an Electronics Engineer in the defence industry.
Follow Charles Ewen:
About Met Office: A world-leading weather and climate service.
Charles Ewen
Director of Information Technology & CIO of Met Office
Charles Ewen responsible for the development and implementation of our ICT Strategy and for the internal technical teams within the Technology Information Services Directorate – and work closely with our Science teams to operate our High Performance Computing capability. The Met Office relies heavily upon cutting-edge IT to improve the quality of forecast services and increasingly to make those services accessible and effective for customers and the Public. I have worked for the Met Office in a number of senior technology roles since 2008 and, prior to that, worked in the Business-to-Business online retail and distribution industry. During this time I used relevant technologies to transform businesses from traditional retail approaches to being internet and technology capable. As well as a number of consulting appointments, I worked within the Premier Farnell group of companies for over 10 years. I have run my own small technology company and started my career as an Electronics Engineer in the defence industry.
Follow Charles Ewen:
About Met Office: A world-leading weather and climate service.
Mark Jones
Managing Director of Apira
Mark is an experienced business leader and healthcare consultant, in a career spanning 22 years. He has led two businesses (including Apira) since 1992 and has built up an extensive portfolio of work during this time. Mark’s strength lies in his ability to confidently lead major projects and teams, such as NHS Care Records Service systems and PACS which have all been successfully deployed. He always seeks to build and develop close relationships with all Apira customers and associate companies, working in partnership to achieve mutual goals. This ethos has been key to the development of Apira over the last ten years.
Follow Mark Jones:
About Apira: Apira helps organisations gain the most from technology and information in order to meet today’s pressing challenges.
Susan Zhang
Co-founder & Managing Director of China Ambition Pty Ltd
Follow Susan Zhang:
About China Ambition Pty Ltd: GET MORE CHINESE CUSTOMERS by avoiding embarrassing communication faux pas
Martin Campbell
Director of BEACON STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Martin Campbell works as a Founder and Director at BEACON STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS.
Follow Martin Campbell:
About BEACON STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: Financial Services
