Top Influencers: 39 UK Head of Strategy’s To Follow in 2022

3 years ago

Founder and Head of Strategy play a crucial role in any startup. It takes an extraordinary person to fulfil the Founder and Head of Strategy role. We have selected these Founder and Head of Strategy’s for this list as they are inspiring for a variety of reasons – whether that’s pushing boundaries, creating groundbreaking products, or doing their bit to save the world.

Our analysts did their best to select be best, and most innovative Founder and Head of Strategy’s. The list is in no particular order!

Yasin Sebastian Qureshi

Founder and Head of Strategy @ Aqua Digital Rising

Follow Yasin Sebastian Qureshi on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Yasin Sebastian Qureshi is the founder and former CEO of Varengold Bank. At the age of 29 he was the youngest person ever in Germany to obtain a license to run an investment bank. He is also the founder and former CEO of The NAGA Group AG www.naga.com as well as the founder of AQUA Digital Rising www.aquarising.com. He is an entrepreneur, investor and film producer born in Germany and based in London. His investments range from finance, to Internet and media. Learn more about Yasin Sebastian Qureshi on Crunchbase…

Next Generation Alternative-Asset Investment and Analytics Platform – Unlocking Human Value with AI and Big Data Read more about Aqua Digital Rising on Crunchbase…

Matthew Wright

Head of Strategy & Operations @ Argent

Follow Matthew Wright on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Argent is the most simple and secure smart wallet for crypto. Read more about Argent on Crunchbase…

Evan Graj

Head of Strategy and PMO @ NTUC Enterprise Co-operative

Follow Evan Graj on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Read more about NTUC Enterprise Co-operative on Crunchbase…

Jonathan Robertshaw

Senior Head of Strategy @ BBC

Follow Jonathan Robertshaw on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Jonathan Robertshaw is the Senior Head of Strategy at BBC. Learn more about Jonathan Robertshaw on Crunchbase…

BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people. Read more about BBC on Crunchbase…

Darren Andrews

Head of Strategy and Technology @ Agilent Technologies

Follow Darren Andrews on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Agilent Technologies on Crunchbase…

Austin Tasker

Co-Founder & Head of Strategy @ WeFiFo

Follow Austin Tasker on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Austin brings a wealth of international experience in asset management, business transformation and launching businesses; most recently, Mous, growing revenue to over £6m, increasing resource and closing a large funding round. Austin founded social eating platform Feedup, which is now part of WeFiFo. Learn more about Austin Tasker on Crunchbase…

WeFiFo connects people that love to cook with people who love to eat. Read more about WeFiFo on Crunchbase…

Deborah Fortescue

Head Of Strategy @ Digital Wonderlab

Follow Deborah Fortescue on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Digital Wonderlab on Crunchbase…

Ditlev Schwanenflugel

Head of Strategy @ TMF Group

Follow Ditlev Schwanenflugel on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about TMF Group on Crunchbase…

Melanie Arrow

Head Of Strategy @ Beattie McGuinness Bungy

Follow Melanie Arrow on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Beattie McGuinness Bungy is a creative agency sharing ideas for ideas that give brands a greater share of the future. Read more about Beattie McGuinness Bungy on Crunchbase…

Jennifer Daothong

Head of Strategy and Sustainability @ London Legacy Development Corporation

Follow Jennifer Daothong on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Jennifer Daothong is Senior Sustainability Manager at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) where she leads on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Environmental sustainability policy. Current priorities include promoting best environmental practice in construction with the LLDC’s developer partners, working towards achieving zero waste to landfill and attempting to maximise the reuse of materials arising from the deconstruction and transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Venues. She has also been leading on the Legacy Communities Scheme approach to creating offset solutions, a mechanism by which to support carbon saving initiatives outside of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park using the value created by new development. Prior to joining the LLDC Jennifer managed estate-based regeneration schemes in the London Borough of Southwark, where she was interim manager of one of the Mayor’s Low Carbon Zones. Her background is in housing and regeneration and its environmental impacts, having led on this housing policy area previously at the Greater London Authority. Learn more about Jennifer Daothong on Crunchbase…

Read more about London Legacy Development Corporation on Crunchbase…

Marco Santesso

Head Of Strategy @ Selll

Follow Marco Santesso on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Selll on Crunchbase…

Pete Jackson

Head of Strategy & Insights, EMEA @ Wasserman

Follow Pete Jackson on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Wasserman Champion, Single and Unified Partners of the world’s most emblematic brands, assets and skills. Read more about Wasserman on Crunchbase…

Joanna Nader

Group Head of Strategy @ TP ICAP

Follow Joanna Nader on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

TP ICAP is a global firm of professional intermediaries that plays a pivotal role in the world’s financial, energy and commodities markets. Read more about TP ICAP on Crunchbase…

Toby Roberts

EMEA Head of Strategy @ Essence

Follow Toby Roberts on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Essence on Crunchbase…

Merve Arslan Ferrero

Chief of Staff & Head of Strategy @ Zopa

Follow Merve Arslan Ferrero on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Merve is responsible for getting things done. She manages Zopa’s major strategic initiatives and the operational rhythm of the business. Most recently she’s been leading Zopa’s overall bank launch programme. Before joining Zopa in 2015, Merve was in China building and scaling tech companies and previously, in Istanbul in investment banking at both Credit Agricole, and Credit Suisse. Learn more about Merve Arslan Ferrero on Crunchbase…

Zopa offers peer-to-peer loans with low rates, flexible terms, and no early repayment fees. Read more about Zopa on Crunchbase…

Ryan Ghee

Head of Strategy, Engagement and Content @ FTE Innovation & Startup Hub

Follow Ryan Ghee on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Ryan Ghee is the head of strategy, engagement, and content at Future Travel Experience. Learn more about Ryan Ghee on Crunchbase…

FTE Innovation & Startup Hub is an air transport innovation network that connects corporate innovators with air transport specific startups. Read more about FTE Innovation & Startup Hub on Crunchbase…

Will Sansom

Head of Strategy @ The Brooklyn Brothers

Follow Will Sansom on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Read more about The Brooklyn Brothers on Crunchbase…

Andreas Manolis

Head of Strategy & Risk, Group Business Assurance @ BT

Follow Andreas Manolis on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Andreas is the head of strategy and risk for BT Group Business Assurance with responsibility for setting the Business Assurance strategy, concept to market assurance, risk management, governance and driving innovation utilizing new technologies in AI / Machine Learning, Cognitive and Blockchain. Andreas has had a career in telecoms since 1999 working within MCI WorldCom, One2One, T-Mobile, Deutsche Telecom, Orange, EE and BT. He has contributed to national and international initiatives in his prior capacity on the board of directors of the Telecoms UK Fraud Forum (TUFF) and as Deputy Chairman of the Communication Crime Strategy Group (CCSG) working in partnership with government and national agencies. Learn more about Andreas Manolis on Crunchbase…

BT provides communications services to consumer and business sectors worldwide. Read more about BT on Crunchbase…

Henry Nash

Head Of Strategy @ Octagon

Follow Henry Nash on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Octagon on Crunchbase…

Ritchie Somerville

Head of Strategy @ University of Edinburgh

Follow Ritchie Somerville on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about University of Edinburgh on Crunchbase…

Simon McEvoy

UK Head of Strategy @ Omobono

Follow Simon McEvoy on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Simon is the head of strategy at business transformation consultancy Three Point Zero. He is a multi-award winning marketing strategist with over 10 years experience working on blue-chip clients like Unilever, Microsoft, Sky and Capital One. His work at Three Point Zero includes helping clients embed sustainability and social purpose activities into their organisational culture, and leverage them in brand marketing campaigns. Learn more about Simon McEvoy on Crunchbase…

Omobono is a creative and technology partner for business brands Read more about Omobono on Crunchbase…

Ian Crabb

Head Of Strategy @ Castellan Solutions

Follow Ian Crabb on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Castellan Solutions on Crunchbase…

Paolo Nieddu

Global Head of Strategy @ Copa90

Follow Paolo Nieddu on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Copa90 The voice of football fans around the world. Read more about Copa90 on Crunchbase…

Paris Stylianides

Co-Founder. head of Strategy and Growth @ Jobcha

Follow Paris Stylianides on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

JOBCHA is a smarter job search using machine learning algorythms. Read more about Jobcha on Crunchbase…

Kaan Camgoz

Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff @ Meta

Follow Kaan Camgoz on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Read more about Meta on Crunchbase…

Vanisha Bhatia

Head of Strategy @ Aperam

Follow Vanisha Bhatia on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Vanisha Mittal Bhatia was appointed as a member of the LNM Holdings Board of Directors in June 2004. Vanisha Mittal Bhatia was appointed to Mittal Steel’s Board of Directors in December 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the European Business School and has worked at Mittal Shipping Ltd, Mittal Steel Hamburg GmbH, an Internet-based venture capital fund, within the procurement department of Mittal Steel, in charge of a cost-cutting project, and is currently Head of Strategy for Aperam. She is the daughter of Lakshmi N. Mittal. Learn more about Vanisha Bhatia on Crunchbase…

Read more about Aperam on Crunchbase…

Nathan Baranowski

Managing Director & Head of Strategy and Solution Design @ Digital Wonderlab

Follow Nathan Baranowski on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Nathan has over 15 years experience in transformation, technology and innovation. For the last seven years he has worked across a number of health and social care providers to enable them to transform their business through technology. Nathan is an accomplished transformation programme director, entrepreneur and strategist and owner of his own technology business – ojo solutions. Learn more about Nathan Baranowski on Crunchbase…

Read more about Digital Wonderlab on Crunchbase…

Jerry Norton

Head of Strategy, Financial Services @ CGI

Follow Jerry Norton on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Jerry Norton is CGI’s global payments leader. He is jointly responsible for CGI’s strategy across the banking industry and is a member of CGI’s Banking Industry Cabinet and its Growth Council, which govern CGI’s global $2bn plus financial services business. He specializes in industry wide change whether led by business or technology and his views are sought globally. Jerry brings a combination of domain expertise and technology stewardship coupled with an understanding of compliance, regulation and operational risk prevention and management. Much of his current focus is on open banking and the changes in the payments market. He is a regular presenter at international conferences on the major financial services themes of the day, a contributor to a number of think tanks, and is often quoted in the mainstream and trade media. When he is not waiting in airport security queues, surveying airport lounges, or sitting inside an aeroplane he sails extensively and runs half marathons frequently. Learn more about Jerry Norton on Crunchbase…

Read more about CGI on Crunchbase…

Jason Martin

Head of Strategy @ The Access Group

Follow Jason Martin on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

The Access Group is a software consultancy and developer company that provides fully integrated business management software. Read more about The Access Group on Crunchbase…

Gavin Holzman

Head Of Strategy @ 365 Business Finance

Follow Gavin Holzman on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Gavin Holzman is the Head Of Strategy at 365 Business Finance. Learn more about Gavin Holzman on Crunchbase…

365 Business Finance offers fast and flexible merchant cash advance solutions. Read more about 365 Business Finance on Crunchbase…

Christine Thoma

Head of Strategy @ Zeal Investments

Follow Christine Thoma on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Read more about Zeal Investments on Crunchbase…

Rob Campbell

Head Of Strategy EMEA @ R/GA

Follow Rob Campbell on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Robert has lived and worked in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and the US. He has developed strategy for everything from airport lounges to space stations for everyone from NIKE to Metallica at companies that include cynic, Wieden+Kennedy and now R/GA. Learn more about Rob Campbell on Crunchbase…

Read more about R/GA on Crunchbase…

Laurence Monnier

Head of Strategy and Research, Alternative Income @ Aviva Investors

Follow Laurence Monnier on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Laurence is responsible for managing infrastructure debt within Aviva Investors’ infrastructure investment business and has over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure and energy finance. Prior to joining Aviva Investors, she was Head of Credit Infrastructure and the Public Sector at Depfa where she was responsible for the management of over €20 billion of infrastructure loan assets. Between 2002-2007, as Director at Fitch Ratings, Laurence established and managed the European project finance ratings practice. Earlier in her career, Laurence was a Director at Deutsche Bank, with responsibility for the European project finance portfolio. Learn more about Laurence Monnier on Crunchbase…

Aviva Investors is a global asset manager with expertise in real estate, fixed income, equity, multi-asset and alternative investments. Read more about Aviva Investors on Crunchbase…

Roger Clark

Head of Strategy @ BT Global Services

Follow Roger Clark on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Roger Clark is Head of Strategy at BT Global Services. Learn more about Roger Clark on Crunchbase…

BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group. Read more about BT Global Services on Crunchbase…

Chris Thomas

Vice President & Head of Strategy and Business Development and Group Company Secretary @ Seven Energy

Follow Chris Thomas on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Chris has over 25 years’ experience in corporate finance generally and, for the last 17 years, in the exploration and production sector. Previously, Chris was a founding director and group company secretary of Melrose Resources, the former London Stock Exchange FTSE 250 listed international E&P company with interests in EMEA and the US. Chris is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Learn more about Chris Thomas on Crunchbase…

Seven Energy is an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas exploration, development, production and distribution company. Read more about Seven Energy on Crunchbase…

Sotirios Paroutis

Professor of Strategic Management & Head of Strategy and International Business Group @ Warwick Business School

Follow Sotirios Paroutis on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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Sotirios is Head of the Strategy and International (SIB) group and teaches in the Masters, MBA, and Executive programmes at the Warwick Business School (WBS). He is recipient of multiple annual WBS Outstanding MBA and Masters Teacher Awards and has been involved in training for a number of organizations including IBM, E.On, UBS, CapGemini and Transport for London. Previously he worked as Junior Associate at McKinsey & Company (London), Financial Analyst at Procter & Gamble (Athens) and Credit Analyst at Eurobank EFG Bank (Athens). Learn more about Sotirios Paroutis on Crunchbase…

Read more about Warwick Business School on Crunchbase…

Sophie Haagensen

Head of Strategy & Planning @ Atom Bank

Follow Sophie Haagensen on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Atom Bank is a mobile banking application that offers a range of personal and business banking products. Read more about Atom Bank on Crunchbase…

Julia Fernandez

Head of Strategy @ King Content

Follow Julia Fernandez on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

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As Head of Strategy, Julia is responsible for the development of content marketing strategy for King Content’s clients including Cisco, Bupa and Amcor. She regularly hosts workshops and training sessions to upskill stakeholders on content marketing, as it relates to their function. With a strong focus on audience insights, she produces strategies that not only address client objectives, but that achieve stakeholder buy-in through continued education. Learn more about Julia Fernandez on Crunchbase…

Read more about King Content on Crunchbase…

Mary Black

Head of Strategy, Digital @ Public Health England

Follow Mary Black on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.

Protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government. Read more about Public Health England on Crunchbase…

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