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Meet Our Team
With decades of collective knowhow and the vigour of youth, our team have a great balance of perspectives that never fail to deliver insight and inspiration.
Operations Director
Roxanna Hayes - Operations Director
Role: I work directly under the CEO and Managing Director, working on a variety of projects. I also manage Champions' recruitment and HR whilst running the internal operations of Champions (UK) plc.
Fun Work Fact: Just call me 118!!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I laugh like a hyena! Can't bake cakes to save my life….
Director - CSR
Louisa Hayes - Director - CSR
Role: I’m in charge of all purchasing and selling of sporting, music and film memorabilia and experiences to companies and raising money for charities through the main and silent auctions run at events. From designing the brochure of what is to be on offer at each event, to processing payments and stock auditing. Aside from this I set up and oversee the running of events as a whole. As well as the events and charity side I am in charge of making sure the CEO is where he should be at the time he should be…. The hardest job in the business!!!
Fun Work Fact: Meeting celebrities for memorabilia signings.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I play indoor cricket for England Women!
Music & Entertainment Sales Executive
Rachel Roarke - Music & Entertainment Sales Executive
Role: I book celebrity acts and speakers from the world of sports, music and entertainment for a variety of events whether it be corporate, civic, charitable or private.
Fun Work Fact: Offers entertainment and humour along with daily duties.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I eat all things chocolate except if it’s covering nuts. Is nuts…
Music And Entertainment Sales Executive
Nick Darby - Music And Entertainment Sales Executive
Role: Booking all types of different acts for all kinds of occasions.
Likes: Football (Man Utd), Holidays.
Dislikes: I am petrified of all birds and I hate mustard.
Fun Work Fact: Prior to working at champions I travelled the world working on cruise ships.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I once beat Olympic swimmer Mark Foster at a game of basketball.
After Dinner Administrator
Charlotte Fox - After Dinner Administrator
Role: My main duties are to assist Jack, the Celebrity Manager for Champions. Administering and supporting the department along with maintaining records, sending out contracts and invoicing.
Fun Work Fact: I only started in Jan 2015, a little too early to have one. I will come back to you!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I got proposed to with a padlock instead of ring!
After Dinner Sales Executive
Lewis Ray - After Dinner Sales Executive
Role: Recommending the perfect speaker for client's events.
Likes: Red wine, Football & my cats.
Dislikes: Hot dogs & Horror films.
Fun Work Fact: I choreographed a successful world record attempt on an event I worked on.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I only lost the 2017 London Marathon by 1 hour and 46 minutes…
After Dinner Sales Executive
Isabelle Lee - After Dinner Sales Executive
Role: Recommending the perfect speaker for a client’s event.
Likes: Pizza, puppies and trying new things.
Dislikes: Bad weather and having to wear high heels.
Fun Work Fact: Prior to working at Champions I have worked as a Thomson holiday rep.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I’ve played every sport you can think of from cricket to volleyball
Senior Talent Executive
Amelia Neate - Senior Talent Executive
Role: I work in the Celebrity Management department helping to manage a number of celebrities we look after, such as Neil Back MBE, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Gail Emms. This involves booking and overseeing various media, event and brand ambassadorial engagements.
Fun Work Fact: Work is serious, not fun, unless you sit next to Lloyd Bailey!!
Fun Non-Work Fact: My two loves in life are playing lacrosse and visiting America.
Senior Events & Golf Manager
Ashleigh Kerr - Senior Events & Golf Manager
Role: I work in the events department. I help to organise and set up the events, dealing with all aspects including guest communication and admin.
Fun Work Fact: I joined the company the week of my hen do, and my birthday was the week after!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I enjoy a bit of dancing in the kitchen on a Friday night.
Events Executive
Lauren Gwynne - Events Executive
Role: Working within the events team to help co-ordinate and deliver all the events on the yearly calendar ranging from regional award ceremonies and charity dinners to national golf tournaments.
Likes: Baileys, running, holidays and going out for food/drinks (if I could eat oriental food or sushi every night…I would!)
Dislikes: Laziness, being late and spiders!
Fun Work Fact: I am a returnee to the Champions team as I did my university work placement with the company 3 years ago.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have just moved back from living in sunny Cyprus for the past 2 years as my other half is in the military – I loved every second of it!
Events Sales Executive
Jo Baxter - Events Sales Executive
Role: Selling B2B sponsorship packages to sports, celebrity and business based companies across the UK
Likes: Beautiful dresses and a fabulous high heel!
Dislikes: Rice pudding!
Fun Work Fact: Love the thrill of making the sale you thought you’d never get!
Fun Non-Work Fact: It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
Celebrity Sales Manager
Cat Mitchell - Celebrity Sales Manager
Role: I book celebrity speakers for a variety of events including Sports Dinners, Awards Ceremonies, Schools and Charity Events. I’m always on the phone talking to different celebrities and clients every day!
Fun Work Fact: I feel like Britney Spears when I have my headset on…and I love it!
Fun Non-Work Fact: When I was younger I played Cossette in the West End musical Les Miserables and have loved watching and being in Musical Theatre ever since!
Celebrity and Brand Partnership Executive
Elyssia Gill - Celebrity and Brand Partnership Executive
Role: I work in the Celebrity and Talent Department, working with celebrities and brands to create successful partnerships for media work, personal appearances, endorsement deals and PR campaigns. I also work with brands to outsource celebrity talent and support with Champions Celebrity Social media pages.
Likes: I adore fashion, music and travelling. I also can’t live without my cats, dog or morning coffee.
Dislikes: Rain and not having a morning coffee.
Fun Work Fact: I have degree in International Fashion Business and had the opportunity to attend CIFF Trade Show in Copenhagen.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I love going to Barcelona every year for endless tapas and sun. However, my Spanish is a work in progress.
Celebrity Administrator
Jo Foster - Celebrity Administrator
Role: I work in the Celebrity team organising contracts, logistics and practicalities of events, for example travel and accommodation.
Likes: The Nottingham Panthers, Prosecco, Fruity Green Teas, Gin and Lemonade and Chocolate
Dislikes: Slow Walkers, Tonic and Coffee.
Fun Work Fact: I once individually raised £12,000 for Charity.
Most Likely to be Found: In the Gym/Running or in the Swimming Pool.
Social Media Apprentice
Georgia Haslam - Social Media Apprentice
Likes: I like to go and see live music, cooking and spending time with my family and friends, Mangos
Dislikes: Getting up early on the weekends is something I certainly avoid
Fun Work Fact: The first time I made a cup of coffee was for a colleague, as I had never made it before I used 4 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee thinking it looked the right amount. It definitely wasn’t...
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have a very big family which includes 11 aunties
Director of Sport
Tim Munton - Director of Sport
Role: Develop clarity and focus around the sporting events and relationships within The Champions business. Create a dedicated channel – Champions Sport.
Likes: Sport ? Travel and Wine….
Dislikes: Playing golf in the rain.
Fun Work Fact: The week I spent driving a Nissan Micra courtesy car…
Fun Non-Work Fact: When I met my wife she had a dog called DENNIS and a horse called LILLEY and she didn’t like cricket!
Digital Copywriter
Megan Lupton - Digital Copywriter
Role: Write and edit and write and edit... and write and edit.
Likes: Walking my dog, spending time with family/friends and writing Science Fiction!
Dislikes: My alarm clock. We aren't friends.
Fun Work Fact: Prior to working at Champions, I did a Masters in Creative Writing.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I collect house plants at an embarrassing rate.
Business Development Executive
Jack Hickey - Business Development Executive
Role: Work alongside a range of businesses to help them achieve their full potential. A critical and loyal friend along for the journey.
Likes: Innovation and a sublime novel
Dislikes: Dementors
Fun Work Fact: A coat must always be kept within reach to combat the arctic blast from the evil air conditioning unit. You have been warned
Fun Non-Work Fact: I am on the Prime Ministers Christmas card list
Financial Controller
Satwant Dhillon - Financial Controller
Role: Compiling the management accounts for the business, managing the balance sheet, providing information to the management team on profitability.
Likes: Biscuits! Travelling to far flung places and Musicals
Dislikes: Reality Shows, Creepy Crawlies
Fun Work Fact: Never far from the biscuit tin…..
Fun Non-Work Fact: Once stalked David Beckham round Singapore, also love superhero movies
Celebrity and Entertainment Administrator
Georgie Edwards - Celebrity and Entertainment Administrator
Role: I work in the Celebrity team organising contracts, logistics and practicalities of events.
Likes: Reading, cute dogs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, pizza and pink Gin!
Dislikes: Any and all creepy crawlies!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I’ve watched every episode of FRIENDS at least 5 times.
Social Media Apprentice
Amber hardy - Social Media Apprentice
Role: Creating and sharing content for both internal and external social media accounts
Likes: Dogs, make-up and football
Dislikes: Bananas, spiders and chocolate cake
Fun Work Fact: Before Champions, I worked part-time at Tesco for 3 years!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I gained a black belt in Tae-Kwon Do when I was 13, but I stopped training after that!!
Office Manager
Claire Murphy - Office Manager
Role: Manage the office and PA to the CEO.
Likes: Everything entertainment, live theatre, live music and dancing but also organising.
Dislikes: Meat as I’m a veggie!
Fun Work Fact: I danced professionally at The Tower Ballroom in Blackpool twice. Or I was Jim Davidson’s choreographer.
Fun Non-Work Fact: Last year I overcame my phobia of snakes and held one numerous times. Now I can comfortably watch I’m a Celebrity without having to turn away from the screen.
Accounts Manager
Sharon Sparano - Accounts Manager
Role: I oversee the Accounts department at Champions Speakers. This is split between Champions Accounts and Celebrity Client Accounts.
Fun Work Fact: I enjoy working in a lively always changing Company, and the variety this gives my role.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I enjoy going on Holiday to Zante where I would love to buy a house in the future.
Business PR Account Executive
Scott Giles - Business PR Account Executive
Role: Liaising with clients, copywriting, pitching in news stories to journalists, all round media relations!
Likes: Manchester United, cinema, whisky, being sarcastic
Dislikes: Slow moving people
Fun Work Fact: Once dressed as a stormtrooper at a client event
Fun Non-Work Fact: Trekked the Grand Canyon
Senior Copywriter
Richard Padmore - Senior Copywriter
Role: Massively varied and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Concept and brand creation, sport, politics and finance ghost-writing, thought pieces on pretty much anything, editorial, advertorial, digital, TV, radio and video. You name it. Oh, and I’m heavily involved in our own business development efforts. Which is nice.
Likes: Books, fish, football and Australian cricketers crying on the telly.
Dislikes: Plasticine, Clarkson, the majority of cheeses and unnecessary fuss.
Fun Work Fact: I’m functionally illiterate but nobody’s quite clocked on to it yet. Mum’s the word, eh . . . . .
Fun Non-Work Fact: My scrambled eggs are better than yours.
Commercial Director
Chris Darlington - Commercial Director
Role: All sorts …… but mainly generating new business opportunities
Likes: Rugby , cricket , claret and Royal Blood
Dislikes: People without a sense of humour
Fun Work Fact: Was once ( briefly ! ) a male model
Fun Non-Work Fact: Was once mistaken for Justin Timberlake ( honest ! )
SEO Executive
Laurence (aka 'Laurie') Dominic Levy - SEO Executive
Role: Together with my colleagues in the digital team, working to improve rankings and increase traffic & leads through some of Champions’ core websites.
Likes: Sports (watching more than doing these days), food (especially Moroccan and Indian), movies, relaxing with family and friends.
Dislikes: Slow cars hogging the outside lane!!!
Fun Work Fact: a bit random and showing my age a bit, but I once attended a work-related conference at the NEC Birmingham and sat next to John Craven. What a legend!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have been a tennis coach and once cooked a Moroccan tagine for over 400 people. Note to self for 2019 - more tennis, less tagine!
Digital Copywriter
Megan Mosley - Digital Copywriter
Role: Working with the digital team to create content and copy for the Influencer website, internal projects and clients.
Likes: Holidays, makeup, skincare, pizza and a good book.
Dislikes: Coffee.
Fun Work Fact: I graduated from the University of Derby with a first-class honours’ degree in Journalism.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have my own beauty and lifestyle blog and I can recite every episode of Friends.
Magento Developer
Moin Malek - Magento Developer
Role: Create and Maintain Magento Extensions, Magento Websites and Design and Develop new websites.
Likes: BBQ Chicken, Indian Tea, Cricket
Dislikes: Rain, Fish
Fun Work Fact: I speak to myself while doing coding.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I got 99 out of 100 in Mathematics in Year 10 final exam. (India Secondary Education Board Exam)
Brand Strategy Executive
Harriet Taylor - Brand Strategy Executive
Role: As a strategist, I across all departments here at Champions, to find innovative ways to enhance and improve a business’s 360 brand.
Likes: Good Coffee
Dislikes: Bad Coffee
Fun Work Fact: I have a degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion and was shortlisted for the Graduate Fashion Week Marketing Award 2019
Fun Non-Work Fact: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson is the best book I have ever read!
Digital Marketing Executive
Rebecca Edwards - Digital Marketing Executive
Role: To assist the SEO team in optimizing websites to improve traffic levels, rankings and the overall user experience. I also produce optimized copy for the digital team.
Likes: Good food, shopping, reading and a good documentary.
Dislikes: Pigeons.
Fun Work Fact: I can take shorthand notes at 100wpm.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I once interviewed Sandi Toksvig and John McCarthy.
PR account executive
Fran Prince - PR account executive
Role: Gaining press coverage for clients.
Likes: Reviewing and photographing gigs, painting, interior design and chatting… a lot.
Dislikes: When you feel like you’re pulling teeth trying to talk to someone.
Fun Work Fact: I once had a life-sized face lollipop of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby featured on ITV This Morning.
Fun Non-Work Fact: Greg James once re-tweeted me.
Senior Designer
Ewen Lewis - Senior Designer
Role: I'm part of the Creative Team at Champions (UK) plc, working closely with Sarah Pearson, the Marketing Manager. I am responsible for developing creative ideas, seeing them from conception to completion.
Fun Work Fact: I joined Champions on Valentine’s Day!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I started playing drums at the age of 7½! With over 30 years’ experience, I have played for many local Leicester bands and Orchestras.
Digital Communications Manager
Amy Coleman - Digital Communications Manager
Role: I’m currently working across the social media platforms that Champions Speakers runs, as well as various other corporate/consumer clients.
Fun Work Fact: I have most recently changed careers, from working at a pharmacy to digital marketing & social media.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I write my very own beauty blog, where I constantly display stunning pictures of my nails!
Celebrity Social Media Apprentice
Emma Richardson - Celebrity Social Media Apprentice
Role: Working with and assisting Amy.
Likes: Instagram, buying make up and spending time with friends!
Dislikes: Being cold and housework.
Fun Work Fact: I have just finished working at Birds Bakery, after two years, to come and work here!!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I spend a lot of my free time on social media, as I love celebrity gossip
Marketing Manager
Frankie Arnold - Marketing Manager
Role: Assisting the team on all account management tasks, anything from gaining print quotes from suppliers, liaising with clients, reviewing suppliers and maintaining quality control to keeping on top of the invoicing.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I’ve got two budgies called Eric and Ernie who I’m trying to teach how to speak!
SEO Apprentice
Lauren Perkins - SEO Apprentice
Role: Helping the SEO team to improve traffic and rankings of Champions Websites
Likes: Shopping and any kind of fruity Gin
Dislikes: Vinegar, loud eaters and rain
Fun Work Fact: I am very organised, my desk is always neat and tidy
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have an extensive shoe and handbag collection that is ever expanding!
Brand Strategy Manager
Sinead Stroud - Brand Strategy Manager
Role: Creating bespoke brand strategies for our clients to help them achieve their business goals.
Likes: Travelling, languages, lots of food and interior design
Dislikes: Wasps, fishy fish and having to sit through Match of the Day
Fun Work Fact: I studied Journalism at University so my ability to write shorthand sometimes comes in handy!
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have been known to Irish Dance to C’est la Vie by B*Witched at various social occasions
Digital Marketing and Content Executive
Roxana Humelnicu - Digital Marketing and Content Executive
Role: Content audits, content writing, content strategy, email marketing, asset creation
Likes: Cooking, Pilates, travelling, TV show Friends, cats
Dislikes: Bugs especially spiders, people chewing with their mouth open
Fun Work Fact: Not sure if it counts as “work” but I took part in a charity sleepover with my colleagues at the Justice Museum in Nottingham which is supposed to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK
Fun Non-Work Fact: More interesting than fun - I was questioned by the Israeli border police at the airport in Tel Aviv. For some reason I looked suspicious 😊 And then my friends got questioned because of me.
SEO Apprentice
Kali Dennett - SEO Apprentice
Role: Using SEO techniques to increase online traffic for all Champions brands and assisting the SEO team with anything they need
Likes: Travelling, cooking and the theatre
Dislikes: Traffic, rain and being hungry!
Fun Work Fact: I used to work in a ski resort, despite not being able to ski (I learnt eventually)
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have summited the Atlas Mountains
Junior Front-End Developer
Daniel Dyson - Junior Front-End Developer
Role: Setting up, maintaining and updating websites.
Likes: Music, travel, playing drums, technology and all things that involve a beach!
Dislikes: Slow internet, faulty cars
Fun Work Fact: I used to be an International Session Drummer playing for artists, cruise ships and hotels all over the world.
Fun Non-Work Fact: I play 2 Chinese musical instruments: The Dizi and the Guzheng
Account Manager
Lisa Brakewell - Account Manager
Role: Strategy Consultation, Client Support and Process Management
Likes: Musicals and the theatre, Yoga, Pilates and walking my dog
Dislikes: Bad parking, rudeness generally but especially in restaurants
Fun Non-Work Fact: I ran my first Robin Hood half marathon this year
Digital Marketing and Content Executive
Lauren Thomas - Digital Marketing and Content Executive
Role:
Creating onsite and offsite content for clients, as well as performing general digital marketing tasks
Likes: Dogs, dancing, ASOS and wine
Dislikes: Courgettes, slow walkers and complicated roundabouts
Fun Work Fact: I have visited Facebook's London office
Fun Non-Work Fact: I have danced in the O2 arena in London, as well as The Royal Albert Hall and Her Majesty's Theatre!
