Nick Townend

Founder of Ideas Group and Ideas Projects, and creator of OTP, a business and brand consultant leading UK creative organisations in London, Edinburgh and York, before forming Ideas Group in 2003. He has led the delivery of strategic and tactical branding, marketing and experiential initiatives for regional, national and global brands.

Shaun Simmonds

Shaun brings 20 years of experience and has acquired expertise in all aspects of marketing within sport and the gambling industry. After a successful career in journalism, Shaun joined multinational gambling brand Marathonbet and, following a role as PR & Sponsorship Manager, became Head of Sponsorship and built and activated £100m+ portfolio of partnerships, including with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Andy Cox

Andrew is an authority within the sports data industry having worked alongside some of the most innovative and disruptive global sports federations, teams, media, betting and technology businesses of the last 20 years. As part of the senior management team at Opta for over a decade – including five years leading the business as Managing Director. Most recently as Chief Strategy Officer at Perform (now DAZN), Andrew played a lead role in the sale of Opta to private equity resulting in the formation of Stats Perform.

Gavin Dhesi

Gavin was founder and CEO of a health tech start-up which has developed into one of the leading businesses in its sector, raising funds from top tier venture capital firms. He now resides on the board of a variety of tech firms.

Michael Jackson

Michael began Elite Sports Marketing 5 years ago and the company has become one of the best-known companies of its type in the UK and further afield. Elite Sports Marketing is a sports sponsorship company that helps put brands and sports teams together in a mutually beneficial partnership. Michael and his team work with over 400 clubs worldwide, with personal relationships in each, the UK being the strongest market.

Andy Whitwam

Andy is a former Director and CTO of EMIS Ltd.  EMIS is the largest provider of Healthcare IT systems in the UK.  He was a key member of the management buyout team that successfully took the business public in 2010.  He now operates his own private finance business.

Paul Clayton

Finance Director, Paul is a consultant, non-executive Director and company secretary to several business enterprises. He is a Chartered Management Accountant with over 30 years of experience and assists with financial planning and management accounting.

Nick Waters

With over 35 years of experience in creative design and marketing, having established a leading design and print agency in York, before joining Ideas Group as Creative Director, Nick delivers effective brand consultancy for regional, national and global organisations across a broad range of sectors.