a proven pioneer

I always get a thrill from being first. First may not be the best financial decision in business, but doing something for the first time has always been a passion of mine: to be an explorer, an adventurer, a brave soul, and to step out of my comfort zone. There is chaos and disruption in being the first that I must confess I also enjoy. It also means I can share my learnings with others following the journey.

I created one of the first commercial websites in the UK in 1996.

I co-founded the first European office of the world’s first global digital agency (Razorfish) in 1998.

I created one of the first integrated customer experiences, for Vodafone, in 2001.

I created Amsterdam’s first integrated communications agency in 2005.

Was a core member of the team that created the world’s first social media agency in 2008 (within Omnicom).

I created the first pop-up restaurant in Amsterdam in 2008 and was the first person to bring the concept of ‘brunch’ to the city and served the city’s first ‘flat white’ coffee in 2009.

I created the branding industry’s first data-driven model justifying investment in brand vs marketing in 2015.

I developed Europe’s first direct-to-consumer platform for artisan farmers and winemakers in 2021.

I created the UK’s first specialist wine importer for Slovenian wine in 2023.

There’s been a lot more along the way of course…