Leadership Awards

The LDC Top 50 2019

Such was the calibre of individuals involved this year, we showcased not one but six of the business leaders at our celebratory event in London on 8th October 2019.
These awards recognise the different ways in which business leaders are fulfilling their ambition and the different stages of their business journey.

The Most Ambitious Business Leader

Clint Wilson

Group Chief Executive, ParentPay

Clint Wilson, Group CEO of leading payments platform for schools ParentPay, was named The LDC Most Ambitious Business Leader of 2019. He set up the business to use technology to solve the problems created by children taking cash into schools to pay for school trips and lunches. The business now serves 5 million parents worldwide, has expanded internationally and is making acquisitions. The judges praised the scale of his determination and belief when he first founded the business, and his continued passion and ambition.

Guy Schanschieff MBE and Jo Schanschieff

Founders, Bambino Mio

The International Expansion award showcased the business leader our judges felt had the most-impressive global outlook, who demonstrates the greatest ambition to drive international growth. Guy and Jo Schanschieff have grown their brand internationally with Bambino Mio reusable nappies now sold in 50 countries worldwide. The company generates 70pc of its £5.5m revenue from overseas.

Social Purpose

Eben Upton CBE

Founder, Raspberry Pi

The Social Purpose award highlighted the leader that our judges felt put people at the heart of everything they do, demonstrating the greatest ambition to do good. Eben Upton has a grand mission: "to give every young person on the planet access to a computer". He's well on his way, having sold 25 million of the affordable and programmable devices worldwide.

Innovation

Margot Cooper

Founder, Limbs & Things

The Innovation award recognised the business leader our judges felt has a true disruptor mentality, with the ambition to transform a sector with fresh-thinking and bold ideas. Margot Cooper has revolutionised her industry with life-like anatomical models. Her 20-strong R&D department, are constantly working on new models to help the company save lives and ensure babies are born safely on five continents.

Alumni’s Leader

Claire Trott

Founder, Plantforce

The Alumni's Leader was selected by our Top 50 2018 alumni and is the person last year's success stories think is deserving of recognition. Claire Trott the founder of Plantforce, which hires out machinery for major construction projects, is in love with the construction industry! She has a disruptive, innovative and determined attitude with a focus technical innovation and customer support.

The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders are people who have demonstrated exporting prowess, introduced new ideas to shake up sectors, driven unprecedented levels of growth and shown real resilience to get to where they are today. Here are the inspiring individuals running Britain's mid-sized companies.

Guy Schanschieff MBE and Jo Schanschieff

Founders, Bambino Mio

Naveen Ahmed

Managing Director, The Parklane Group

Liz Ashall-Payne

CEO, ORCHA

Graham Best

Co-Founder, ReBOUND

Charlie Bigham

Founder, Charlie Bigham’s

Mike Branney and Claire Henderson

Founders, Oh Polly

Bruce Bratley

Founder, First Mile

Marc Chang

CEO, Block Solutions

Margot Cooper

Founder, Limbs & Things

Lyall Cresswell

CEO, Transport Exchange Group

Owen Davies

Co-Founder, Enthuse Group

Joyce de Haas and Raissa de Haas

Co-Founders, Double Dutch

Tracy Ebdon-Poole

Founder, TaxCalc

Rod Aaron Gammons

CEO, Rotolight

Matthew Gavins

Founder, Evolution Power Tools

Catherine Gazzoli

Founder, Piccolo Foods

Aron Gelbard

Co-Founder, Bloom & Wild

Robert Ginsberg

Managing Director, HiB

Simon Goodenough

CEO, DSP

David Hallam

Founder, Wise Software UK

Harry & George Hastings and Daniel & David Ox

Founders, Ocean Holidays

Emma Heathcote-James

Founder, Little Soap Company

Darren Jobling

Co-Founder, Zerolight

Sara Lou-Ann Jones

Founder, Centre of Excellence

Nisha Katona MBE

Founder, Mowgli Street Food

Andrew and Debbie Keeble

Founders, HECK Food

Eddie Latham and PJ Scott

Founders, Velocity Commerce

Toby McCartney

CEO, MacRebur

Robin Modak

Founder, GENMED

Adrian Moorhouse MBE

Managing Director, Lane4

Rachel Parsonage

Managing Director, KMI Brands

Steve Perez

Founder, Global Brands

Martin Port

Founder, Big Change

David Rai

Co-Founder, Sparta Global

Steve Richardson

Director, NRG Fleet Services

Mark Roberts

Founder, Lightfoot

Shaun Rutland

Co-Founder, Hutch

Wayne Spriggs

Founder, Lusso Stone

Helen Swaby

Founder, DeMontfort Fine Art

Richard Tang

Founder, Zen

Michael Teixeira

Chief Executive, MVF

Max Toti

Founder, Captec

Claire Trott

Founder, Plantforce

Eben Upton CBE

Founder, Raspberry Pi

Scott Vincent

Founder, Parker Fitzgerald

Justin Whitston

Founder, Fleetondemand

Dan Williams

Managing Director, Orean Personal Care

Clint Wilson

Group Chief Executive, ParentPay

Gordon Wilson

CEO, Advanced

Dan Wright

Former Chairman, Vision Support Services

Our 'Ones to Watch' category showcases the dynamic and ambitious leaders behind tomorrow’s mid-sized firms. These business leaders have built extraordinary brands and are punching way above their weight in the growth and export stakes.

Stuart McLachlan

CEO, Anthesis Group

The Highly Commended Award for the Ones to Watch, showcases the business leader who is making their mark and is destined for great things. Stuart McLachlan founded Anthesis in 2013 on the belief that sustainability and commerciality go hand in hand. His business now supports 25% of the FTSE100 and delivers 20 - 30% year-on-year organic growth.