Meet the Judges

Gordon Rimmer

Gordon has over 25 years of Technology, Marketing and Business Development experience gained from working with companies like Microsoft, BOC, Hogg Robinson Financial Services (15 years) and innovative technology distributor Steljes who specialised in collaborative working. Gordon has held positions such as Marketing Director and Director of Technology Enabled Relationship Management where he looked after all the touch points across his organisation in financial services, including social media and how you use technology to enable and deliver exceptional customer experience down a variety of channels.

Laila Edy

Laila is passionate about creating amazing digital experiences as well as fostering and celebrating strong digital talent. She has over a decade of experience across media, sport and ecommerce, most of which have been spent in her specialism of product management and strategy. Laila currently splits her time between her 3 main ventures: Future First Digital (consulting), Laila Edy Coaching (coaching) and 10 Digital Ladies, where she is a co-founder helping to increase the visibility of women in digital careers.

Abhishek Verma

Abhishek Verma is Senior Director & Digital Evangelist, for Infosys leading their European Region. He regularly advises Global CxOs & Chief Digital Officers, of Fortune 500 companies, on large scale Digital Transformation programs. A Harvard Business School alumnus, he is a Cognitive Automation & AI industry expert, with 22yr of cutting edge experience in Technology & Digital industry, and has Consumer Experience Cx- in Digital Age, as his prime area of research & interest.”

Paul Blunden

Paul Blunden has spent nearly 20 years working in the digital user experience sector and is the founder and CEO of Usability24/7. Prior to this he was co-founder and CEO of Foviance (now EY Seren), one of Europe’s leading service design agencies. Paul is also an advisor and non-executive director to a number of digital agencies and a Trustee and board director of Picker Europe.

During his time in the UX industry Paul has worked with a wide range of organisations including Dixons Carphone Group, Facebook, RBS and Telefonica helping them to improve the performance of the experiences they offer their customers and users.

Paul is author of a number of papers about digital customer experience and was the driving force behind the publication of the first multichannel customer experience report. More recently he has focussed on mobile and multiplatform user experience with publications on mobile optimisation, multiscreen user behaviour and responsive web design. Paul is also a regular blogger at Usability24/7 on user experience trends and challenges.

Chris Leo

A creative entrepreneur, passionate about building profitable and scalable digital businesses.

Chris founded the digital innovation consultancy Pivot in 2017, merging it with Principles Group later that year.

Now boasting 70+ consultants across their Leeds and London offices, they partner with blue chip clients on groundbreaking international projects.

Recent work includes digital product development and strategy in Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.

David Clamp

A senior IT professional with over 26 years experience delivering programmes in the Banking, Investment and Insurance industries. Former CIO for Hiscox Insurance (UK) leading the digital transformation of the UK retail business. David established Merlin Digital Consulting Ltd in January 2017 to provide expert digital consulting for the financial services industry. Strengths - leadership, forward thinking and innovation based on his extensive experience. Clients have access to his knowledge of transformational change, from strategy, solution selection, implementation and operations

David Taylor

David is a digital management consultant with 25 years’ experience of working with a wide range of organisations. He has a proven track record in creating multi-layered strategies to support digital transformation and business growth. Co-author of two books on digital marketing and social media he helps organisations meet the challenges and opportunities posed by today's digitally-savvy customers using his 6-step digital business model. And he has run hundreds of digital training courses for thousands of professionals in the UK as well as overseas.

Namrata Sarmah

Namrata is Senior Director of Digital at Viacom working across their key global media brands like MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon etc. She is a Virgin Start-Up Mentor and takes keen interest in advising start-ups on digital product management. Namrata is an alumnus of Cambridge Judge Business School and Manchester Business School. She has the unique expertise of working in a variety of sectors like FMCG, Telecom, Media Production, Healthcare, and Broadcast, and has successfully led digital teams in large, mid-sized and start-up companies.

Beverley Brown

Beverley is a Digital Content Director, experienced in implementing content best practice, directing the content element of digital transformation projects and driving operational excellence for global businesses, including PayPal, Three, and SGS, maximising their digital presence. She is focused on the delivery of customer-centric experiences for both B2B and B2C organisations, enabling teams to produce compelling content for international markets. She enjoys bringing together people and technology to provide in-context experiences for users and increase customer engagement.

Stanley Louw

Stanley Louw is part of Avanade’s Digital business in the UK, where he assists industry leaders with navigating the increasing pace of change by focusing on digital disruption, innovation, as well as customer and employee centricity. Prior to joining Avanade, Stanley spent 6 years at Accenture where he headed their Digital Mobility and Digital Financial Services practices for Africa.

Clive Hilton

Clive Hilton has 20 years experience leading global digital teams delivering complex technology programmes across Telco, Media/Broadcasting & Public Sectors. Held positions of Snr Director of Services, Director of Design & Development, Director of Programme Management, with Vodafone, Telefonica, Sky, Etisalat, Digiturk, Swisscom, China Mobile and Cosmote, to name a few of his clients. Appreciating the challenges facing todays business leaders, Clive set up DCG(UK) Ltd, to provide a ‘right-source’ partnership to nearshore software development and is a management consultant.

Kate Thompson

Kate is part of the founding team at Business 3.0 and has partnered with senior leaders across an impressive range of businesses including RBS, Aviva, BP, British Gas, Pernod Ricard, Diageo, IHG and Unilever. She brings provocative commercial and human insight to help leaders create a powerful point of view on the future and then use it to build change into the core of their business. With deep expertise in strategy, transformation, innovation and digital, Kate is also an active member of London’s tech community (inc. Tech She Can, Agora Founders Club, 10 Digital Ladies) and sits on the Advisory Boards of a range of startup and scaling businesses.

Tim Hutchinson

Tim has been designing and producing innovative digital products and experiences for over 20 years. From websites for Universal Music and ‘clever little telly’ apps for Freesat, to a visual ticket management system for the Olympic Games and social campaigns for the British Heart Foundation. With a unique blend of creative and technical knowledge, Tim possess a practical and intellectual understanding of UX and UI design, data analysis and research, agile delivery, product management, and team leadership.

Tom Bryant

Tom is a digital transformation specialist focusing on learning, culture and talent. His career started in Accenture driving global business transformation for large corporates such as Barclays, British Gas and 20th Century Fox. He was Global Head of Learning & Development for Colt Technology Services and in 2013-15 held the post of Senior Advisor in Cabinet Office, British Government, for Digital & Technology Skill. Through his successful startup, TFB Consulting, his mantra is ‘Making Digital about people, not technology…about Emotional Intelligence, not Artificial Intelligence.’

Mark Edgington

A highly driven professional with experience gained internationally in a diverse set of industries pharmaceutical, law, retail, automotive, financial services, travel and others. Renowned for defining & delivering user experience, strategy and development projects; for companies such as GSK, Vodaphone, Deutsche bank, HSBC, DeBeers, Disney, Saint Gobain , Mazda, Airmiles, Thomas Cook, Pfizer, Sky and EY. Holds a 1st class degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence an MSc in Human Computer Interaction (UX) and has spoken at multiple events.

James Brown

James is Managing Director of Longitude Innovation, a consultancy he founded to help SMEs adapt to the ever-changing technology-led business landscape they now operate in and to unlock their dormant innovation potential. Having recently completed his studies in Strategy & Innovation at the University of Oxford, he is now furthering his knowledge of blockchain strategy, cyber security and robotic process automation. James is also the Founder of Viribus Capital, a venture capital firm for organisations with ambitions to expand into Asia.

Hugh Burrows

Hugh has 17 years’ experience in digital and social media. This includes Que Pasa Communications (now part of Seven C3), working on marketing campaigns for Red Bull, Nike and Sony Ericsson; and content projects for the BBC, Channel 4, RTL and Virgin Media. More recently, Hugh was at Unity, managing the social elements of major campaigns including Shwopping for Marks & Spencer. At 3 Monkeys Zeno, Hugh oversees strategy and planning across online, social and influencer channels for clients including BP Castrol, Novartis and Microsoft.

Charlotte Jay

Charlotte is an experienced and successful senior executive with extensive business development experience, having worked across a variety of industry sectors within the global B2B image market. Well-networked within leading brands across the Retail, Travel & Leisure and Airline sectors. Charlotte recently started Cherry Pigeon bringing over 25 years experience of proven strategic solution focused sales growth, marketing creativity and relationship nurturing to other businesses, with specific focus on brand image through corporate clothing and employee engagement. https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte22jay/ @cherrypigeonuk www.cherrypigeon.com

Roger Gosine

Roger specialises in technology business development & growth, most recently as founder of RMG, an advisory firm helping digital startups and service providers scale through business development, go-to-market and support services. RMG’s clients include global service providers such as GoDaddy and Telenor as well as diverse early stage tech companies including Albert (AI marketing), Beezer (mobile apps) & GMS (cloud). Roger is passionate about helping clients achieve growth by enabling the best possible customer experience and go-to-market execution across an increasingly complex omni-channel customer journey.

Stephen Foreshew-Cain

Stephen Foreshew-Cain was recently appointed COO at ThoughtWorks (UK). ThoughtWorks is a software consultancy comprised of passionate individuals whose purpose is to revolutionize digital service design, creation and delivery, while advocating for positive social change. Stephen started his career in Australia in the early 90’s as an analyst in the mobile telecommunications sector and prior to his recent appointment has held several senior executive roles including Group Digital Director at The Co-operative Group and Executive Director of the Government Digital Service.

Abigail Ireland

Abigail enables high achieving executives and teams to take performance to the next level. She delivers workshops, coaching and consulting solutions on peak performance across 3 dimensions: Business Productivity, Physiology and Psychology. Abi spent over 12 years in banking, private equity and strategy in the London and Sydney markets and has built three businesses, including an online language-learning marketplace. She is the London Ambassador for LMBDW (a network of 80,000 female entrepreneurs worldwide) and she is a Young Enterprise Business Advisor.

Miss Clare Gaba BSc (Hons)

Clare founded specialist marketing consultancy, weflourish in January of this year and has seen it go from strength to strength. weflourish had already gained 2 clients and won a client a top 3 spot in a national 2018 marketing awards before weflourish had been established. Clare is qualified in CIM Marketing Planning/Marketing Management and has 10 years of marketing experience across different industries. She has worked in fashion, charity, HR, gifting and was Communications Manager for international furniture retailer, made.com

Matt Studholme

Matt is General Manager Digital Business Europe at Mindtree. With over 25 years’ experience in customer led change Matt advises leading organizations on how to innovate, evolve and deliver growth through a broad spectrum of customer focus, digital enablement and change management. Matt is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has led several marketing and technology businesses.

Justin Deaville

Justin is MD at Receptional, a specialist search marketing agency. We are a Google Premium Partner, nominated by Google as one of the top 30 agencies in the UK. Justin regularly delivers keynote speeches at industry events. Receptional frequently win awards - including 'Best Integrated Search Agency' and 'Best Local’ and 'Best Third Sector' campaigns at the 2017 UK Search Awards. We are finalists for ‘Biddable Team of the Year’ and 'Best Organic Search Team' at the Drum Search Awards 2018.

Ash Cripps

A Companion Member of the Institute of Customer Service and both a UK Customer Experience and UK Digital Experience Awards Judge, Ash has worked for the AA for over 7 years. Fired up about CX, change, lean, agile, culture, continual improvement and the innovative use of technology, Ash was most recently responsible for the AA’s Home Services business systems, processes, technology, BI, and led on continual improvement and change. Ash previously had operational leadership responsibility within the Contact and Operations Centre.

Keith Jump

Keith is a leading exponent of Smart Buildings and Smart Destinations, providing thought leadership, technology direction and global partnership strategies. He founded Connect IB over 15 years ago, acquired by Redstone Connect Plc in 2016. Keith has since overseen the technical direction of OneSpace, recognised by Memoori Smart Building Research as one of the Top Six Global Workplace Management Platforms. Keith utilises his technology experience to design innovative solutions for global companies in real-estate, retail & sports destinations and the developing smart cities sector.

Adam Castleton

Adam has dedicated his career to building digital experiences for brands. Whilst a tecchie at heart, Adam believes the increasing presence of technology can distance people from ‘reality’. This can create a challenge for brands to truly connect with customers. In 2012, Adam founded Startle to showcase how technology can be used to create memorable brand experiences through unique music and technology solutions. Startle now works with thousands of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across the UK, USA and Australia.