Working at Apple for nearly a decade helping lead their European e-commerce team was a rare privilege. It was unbelievably exciting to be part of the story of the world’s most successful company during a remarkable period of growth and product expansion, taking in iPhone, iPad and iPod, not to mention numerous Macs, OS releases, iTunes and more. There were very few dull days. They say Apple gets into your DNA and it certainly instills in employees an uncompromising focus on putting the customer at the centre of everything.

Launching and growing one of the best loved B Corp “businesses for good” in Europe was a great pleasure and proving the “mattress wars” were not all about fast returns was very gratifying.  Leesa donated over 30,000 mattresses in three years to charities supporting the homeless, victims of abuse and human trafficking.  

Marketing Director at award winning start up Blaze (now Beryl). The founders of Blaze were appalled by the level of deaths and injuries suffered by cyclists in urban areas and set out to design a solution. They came up with the idea of projecting a green laser image of a bicycle several metres ahead, alerting drivers and pedestrians. In tests the laser light was shown to improve visibility enormously - especially in drivers’ blindspots. The laser was adapted for use by TfL and is currently on all London Santander hire bikes.

As one of Match.com’s first employees in Europe it was a real privilege to be part of a radically new approach to dating - using data and a little science to bring thousands of couples together. I was responsible for growing the concept and the business across Europe and it was extraordinary to see how rapidly, enthusiastically and universally it became adopted as a part of people’s lives.

It is remarkable to think that as recently as the turn of the millennium almost all recruitment and career management happened on paper with the newspapers carrying highly lucrative job advertisement supplements inviting applicants to mail in printed CVs and letters. Monster.com were at the forefront on the new wave of online businesses reinventing so much of our everyday lives and were one of Internet 1.0’s poster children. For me it was a formative experience to witness at first hand how the internet was tearing up the rule book.

Capezio is the oldest dance brand in the world founded in New York City by Salvatore Capezio in 1887. The business rapidly became the by-word for outstanding dance wear - used by Hollywood greats from Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to the current day performers such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and yes even Taylor Swift. I was lucky enough to get to rebuild the entire digital presence of the business including website, online stores, digital marketing and social presence - reimagining this incredible heritage brand for the modern era.