Leigh Hopwood

Chair, DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Leigh Hopwood (DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer) joined the Board of Trustees in January 2015 following eight years as a CIM volunteer in the South East. She has been Chair of Surrey, Interim Chair of Sussex, as well as Vice Chair and Chair of the South East region. As a member of the CIM Member and Profession Advisory Group, Leigh initiated a network review project in 2014 which aimed at modernising its structure.

Leigh is a Strategic Marketer, specialising in B2B technology and business services, with over 18 years experience in both agency and client-side. She has led marketing functions for IT companies specialised in niche markets, including contact centres and customer services, telecoms, digital customer experiences, and apparel and footwear.

After setting up Redd Marketing in 2010, Leigh has provided clients with marketing consultancy in other sectors, including business services, management consulting, food, automotive, marketing and HR.

Leigh is also a Judge for the European Call Centre and Customer Service Awards and the Call Centre Management Association (CCMA) Awards, and is an Advisor to the Board in Marketing and Communications for the CCMA.

Professor Jonathan Deacon

Vice Chair, DipM FCIM

Professor Jonathan Deacon, BSc. (Hons) (Wales), CIM PGDip, PGCE, MA Marketing, Mphil, PhD Marketing, FCIM, FHEA. Professor of marketing at the University of South Wales.

Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Wales and Ulster Business School. He is a fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the HEA, a member of the Academy of Marketing and past chair of CIM Wales. Within the University of South Wales Business School he leads the 'Making Business Happen' project and the 'Re-Thinking' Entrepreneurship Management Programme and is a visiting academic at a number of well-respected universities in the UK, Germany and the US.

Jonathan has had a life before academia. Having founded his first company at 17 he has experience of running and advising businesses from micro-business start-up through to corporate and public sector bodies with multi-million pound budgets, he retains an interest in a number of successful Welsh knowledge based companies.

Derek Milward

Vice-Chair, DipM MCIM

Derek S C Milward MBA, DipM, MCIM, MCMI, F Inst AM, FHEA, Cert Ed (FE/HE) was elected to the Board of Trustees at the AGM in January 2014. He has worked in a variety of industries including, motor vehicle, electricity supply, retail and manufacturing for more than 20 years. Becoming a lecturer in business administration, management and marketing in Further and Higher Education as a second career.

Since leaving the world of education in 2005, he has been working as a consultant and adviser. Between 2008 and 2010 he was a director of UKTV Ltd, Shrewsbury a digital media company. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Age Concern Sedgley and District which has now merged with Age UK Dudley of which he is a trustee. The combined organisations provide preventive day care and a range of other services to the elderly people of the borough of Dudley in the West Midlands.

He has been an active member of CIM for more than 30 years serving in a variety of roles on the NorWest Midlands Branch and the West Midlands Regional Board. His expertise in education and varied commercial background enabled him to spend time advising young people about careers in business especially marketing. He has a keen interest in continuous professional development and is also a mentor and a member of several professional and learned bodies.

Taffy Alahakoon | DipM MCIM

Trustee

Taffy Alahakoon carries over 20 years of experience in marketing, sales management and leading teams in diverse sectors – FMCG, Pharmaceutical, Teleco, Interior/Office plans & designs, Banking, Luxury Vertical Living , Outdoor Camping & Travel and International Marketing. Taffy has lead marketing at Standard Chartered (Sri Lanka) and championed one of their CSR programmes in addition to being a brand guardian. Post his banking career, he served as Group Director/CMO at Fairway Holdings, a premier luxury condominium developer in Sri Lanka, helping them to build a sound corporate branding and launched several projects. He also served as CEO of one of Fairway Group’s subsidiaries, Go Outdoors, which brought a novel outdoor adventure concept to Sri Lanka. His current role is with stratassist consulting as a strategic and marketing planner.

Taffy holds 2 Master’s degrees (MBA) from USA (Texas) and UK (Birmingham, with commendation) universities in addition to the Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing (CIM, UK), Diploma in Business Administration (ABE, UK), membership at Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM, UK) and Association of Business Executives (MABE, UK). He counts over 12 years of lecturing experience for CIM, ABE, LCCI, CMA and MBA courses.

Matilda Crossman DipM MCIM FCCA

Trustee

Matilda Crossman (DipM, MCIM, FCCA) joined the Board of Trustees in October 2017 following 5 years as CIM member of CIM South West Regional Board and 2 years as a Chair of CIM Bristol & West Branch. Matilda joined CIM Audit and Risk Committee in February 2017 and was elected Chair in October 2017.

Matilda is an executive director and co-founder of the ExP Group, an edtech company focused on enhancing companies’ digital learning strategies with digital learning solutions through globally recognized, accredited content and purpose built platforms. Prior to ExP, Matilda worked for 2 of the largest consultancy companies in the world and also in the education sector for a London stock exchange quoted learning provider.

During her career spanning for nearly 20 years, Matilda has supported and worked with companies from various industries including pharmaceuticals, tobacco, telecom, oil and gas in established and emerging markets in Europe, Africa and China.

Matilda is also a chartered accountant and an alumni of Harvard Business School and also an ACCA Council member. She has been involved during the last 8 years with various ACCA committees ranging from Audit and Risk Committee to Resource Oversight Committee, UK Strategy Implementation Committee, Nomination Committee and International Assembly.

Her passion is travelling, environmental conservation, triathlon and wellbeing.  

June Dennis DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

June joined the CIM Board in 2017, she is both a marketing practitioner and an academic. She has held marketing management positions in a range of industries ranging from clothing and textiles through to engineering plastics. She has expert witness experience, particularly in the fields of fashion marketing and agency/client relationships. June became interested in lecturing through teaching CIM courses during the 1990s. Since then, she has worked at Leeds Beckett University and the University of Wolverhampton in senior faculty roles. June is passionate about the student experience and ensuring that students are encouraged to achieve. She has also undertaken projects on marketing curriculum design and development and integrating project work into the curriculum. She is currently Principal of UK College of Business & Computing.

June is a member of the CIM Learning Advisory Group and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing, BSc (Hons) in Industrial Technology and Management and is a Fellow of the CIM and Chartered Marketer. She is a trustee of Hope Housing, a small charity providing accommodation for homeless people in West Yorkshire and also still undertakes the occasional marketing consultancy or research project.

Nadi Dharmasiri DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Nadi Dharmasiri joined the CIM Board of Trustees in 2017. She is Head of Marketing at Sampath Bank PLC, one of the top tier banks in Sri Lanka. Nadi is a MBA (Merit), FCIM, Chartered Marketer and holds a DipM (UK) and an Advanced Certificate in Executive Management from The PIM. She is also a Member of the Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni.

Nadi's 22+ year marketing career has been in FMCG, Personal Care, Insurance, Advertising, Telco and Banking. She specializes in brand management, advertising and promotions, channel development, corporate communications, corporate social responsibility and special and cross functional project management

Nadi was Chair of CIM Sri Lanka in 2013/14, having been a Board member since November 2005. She has also served as, Senior Vice Chair, Vice Chair, Regional Treasurer, Regional Secretary and as the Head of Public Affairs and Communications. As Chair in 2013/14 she spearheaded of the introduction of a new business model under the International Strategy and implemented the revised articles of association of CIM Sri Lanka. Nadi served as an elected member of the Membership and Professional Advisory Group of CIM UK in 2013/14.

Nadi is an Executive Committee Member of the Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) 2010/11, has been Director of the International Advertising Association, Sri Lanka Chapter since 2012 and an Advisory Board Member of ACEF (Asian Customer Engagement Forum) since 2014.

She has also been a member of the judging panels of Bright Sparks - Effies Awards 2016, IPM People Leaders' Awards 2014 and Young Entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka 2013, and a member of the Technical Committee and Panel of Judges for the NCE Export Awards 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Geraint Evans FCIM

Trustee

Dr Geraint Evans, FCIM, MA, CSM, MSP

Dr Geraint Evans is an award-winning international marketing professional, board advisor, author and academic researcher. He has held a variety of global marketing leadership roles and delivered work for brands such as ODEON Cinemas Group, Virgin Media, Tesco, Boots and Whitbread.

In addition to consulting with a wide variety of clients from SMEs to Global blue-chip companies on marketing, digital and strategic growth, Geraint is very passionate about bringing through the next generation of marketers through training, coaching and mentoring.  Geraint also supports a number of non-profit companies and charities.

His focus areas for writing and speaking are emerging trends in customer behaviour, all things digital, brand marketing and product innovation. Geraint has a PhD in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, is a Visiting Fellow at St Mary’s University and is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

You can find him on social media @drgoevans.

Kate Hamilton FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Kate Hamilton FCIM, FIDM, FRSA, MBA, Chartered Marketer, joined the Board of Trustees in December 2016. She is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Scout4, a new mobile tech venture serving the UK Construction sector.

Kate has over 25 years' award-winning experience in technology & telecoms marketing. Prior to joining the board, Kate taught Marketing Strategy, Mobile and Digital Marketing for several colleges as a guest tutor and lecturer. Following senior marketing roles at Royal Mail, T-Mobile and Avaya, in 2003 she set up marketing consultancy KSM Ltd. Today, via KSM, Kate advises clients on general management and works with them in establishing, developing and leading the marketing function in global technology businesses.

Kate became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2013, and is also a Fellow of the Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing, and of the Royal Society of Art, Manufactures and Commerce. Kate gained her MBA from Henley Management College, and she holds a BA Hons in Business Studies and a BSc Hons in Organic Chemistry.

Dawn Holmes FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Dawn Holmes (FCIM Chartered Marketer) joined the CIM Board in 2017 after a long career in marketing and business with several major technology brands including Schlumberger, Hewlett-Packard and Brother. She is an active Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and has held posts on regional, national and industry sector boards. 

Her 18-year career at Brother included posts as Head of Insight Deployment, Head of Business Intelligence and Head of Marketing. This allowed her to use marketing philosophies across the business, ensuring a strong customer focus.

In 2013, she became a freelance consultant, setting up The Insight Magicians Ltd., providing marketing, research and business intelligence.

A Chartered Marketer since 2002, she has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. She is currently a member of the Doctoral Programme at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) researching how companies use big data to enhance customer experience.

A Visiting Academic at AMBS teaching on Executive Education Programmes, she is also the retained consultant on the Customer Management Leadership Group, a network of senior executives from major UK and global firms who share a passion for achieving consistent and sustainable value for their organisations. The group is directed by AMBS and provides both academic and practitioner input.

Gus MacIver | ACIM

Trustee

Gus MacIver, MA, FCMA, MBA, ACIM is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and Finance Director with a background in Financial Services, Technology and B2B services. Gus is currently the European CFO for FleetCor (an international fleet management & payment services company) with responsibility covering 12 countries (including Russia).

Gus was appointed to the Board of Trustees in December 2017, and additionally sits on the Finance & Strategy Committee, which is responsible for reviewing and monitoring the financial performance of CIM, and overseeing the implementation of the strategy set out by the Board.

Previously he served as a Non Executive Director of MasterCard Ltd and LINK Network Ltd. In addition to “normal” commercial roles, he was a faculty member of the Visa Europe Business School for a number of years - lecturing and tutoring on a wide spectrum of topics at Cambridge University. He has also contributed articles on card management and related business topics to Visa, and been a speaker at a number of international Visa and MasterCard conferences.

Gus is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts, a member of the Institute of Directors, and holds an MA (Mathematics, French) and an MBA.

Julian Rawel DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Julian is Chief Executive of consultancy Market Echoes and a faculty member of a number of UK and international business schools.

Julian spent 16 years with UK tour operator, Eurocamp, principally heading up the sales and marketing function as Group Sales and Marketing Director and was one of four directors to take the company through a £32m management buy out and £60m stock market flotation. In 1994 he was asked to set up the marketing for Britain’s biggest museum development, the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, UK, leaving in 1998 to move into service industry consultancy and concurrently develop an academic career. Julian has worked in faculty and senior management positions at universities including Bradford, Durham, Edinburgh and TIAS.

Julian has been a main board director of Eurocamp plc, ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) and AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators). He has been a Council member of Bradford Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Association of Business Schools Executive Education committee. Julian is a business commentator on radio and television and writes on customer service and teaching best practice. He is a regular blogger www.marketechoes.co.uk/blog/

Allyson Stewart-Allen | FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Allyson Stewart-Allen is a renowned advisor, author, speaker and educator whose expertise in brand internationalisation is sought by leading businesses globally through her consultancy, publications, appearances, mentoring and corporate education.

A Californian based in Europe for over 25 years, Allyson applies her extensive international consulting experience, MBA education with Dr. Peter Drucker and languages (French, German) to the company she founded, International Marketing Partners.

Allyson has advised more than 200 businesses in 26 countries including Aegis, BAE Systems, Burberry, Cadbury, Coach, HSBC, Lufthansa, NBC Universal, SAB Miller and Shell.

She is co-author of best-selling book Working with Americans and an experienced and frequent commentator lending her insights to broadcast, print and digital media across the globe.  Besides her 4-year slot for Sky News as The Muse of Marketing, she appears on several television shows including CNBC’s The Business Class and the last 3 seasons of BBC’s The Apprentice.

Allyson is engaged for her award-winning corporate education experience for the Fortune 100, Moller Centre Cambridge University, Said Business School Oxford University, London Business School amongst others.  She is the first-ever two-time recipient of the Excellence in Practice Award of the European Foundation for Management Development recognising her custom leadership programmes for Lufthansa and BAE Systems.

A frequent keynote speaker at international conferences, Allyson has appeared on the platforms of The Global Peter Drucker Forum, The Conference Board and the Institute of Directors conferences.  In addition to her role as a CIM Trustee, she is a judge for the National Business Awards, CBI/Amazon Growing Business Awards, PwC UK Private Business Awards, Chair of Marketing Judges for the Stevies® International Business Awards and the CIM’s Marketing Excellence Awards.  She is also a Mentor for the Mayor of London’s International Business Programme.

Fiona Spencer FCIM Chartered Marketer

Trustee

Fiona Spencer (FCIM Chartered Marketer) joined the Board of Trustees in January 2017 following eight years as a CIM volunteer in Gloucestershire and 3 years as Vice Chair of the South West Regional Board. Fiona joined the CIM Appointments & Remuneration Committee in January 2014 and was elected Chair in December 2015.

Fiona is an experienced business Consultant and Coach who works closely with clients to support the development of meaningful strategies for growth and profitability.

Her expertise spans Marketing and General Management and she has operated successfully at Management Board level across diverse international markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

During her career Fiona has worked on many great projects from the launch of Budweiser in the UK, pioneering the use of a category approach for the supposedly boring (it isn’t) cleaning tools market through understanding consumer behaviour across many parts of the world, setting up a subsidiary in China and ensuring the smooth running of an acquisition in Brazil.

Having worked with multi-national organisations throughout her career, Fiona has now embraced a portfolio career and has expanded her experience to work with SMEs and Start-ups in varied market sectors and loves to combine her hands-on business and marketing activity with board level volunteer roles as there is always something to learn as well as to give.