Our people

Mark is a serial technology and med-tech entrepreneur, with a proven track record building and selling a number of companies throughout his career.  In addition, Mark has advised the leadership teams of two major UK universities with regard to strategies to commercialise intellectual property and raising venture capital. Mark has been chair of Local Data Company since 2013.

• Connect with Mark Hurley on LinkedIn

Barnaby started his first business in 1998, e-street.com, where as COO he was instrumental in the development of the online classified advertising business, including partnerships with Evening Standard, Microsoft and Visit London. Barnaby co-founded the Local Data Company in 2003 where as Managing Director he has been responsible for the growth of the company from a start-up to an established business with 70 staff. Barnaby is a keen cyclist, having completed the Rapha Manchester to London ride – 350km in a day – in 2015; and most recently in 2017 the Marmotte Challenge.

• Connect with Barnaby Oswald on LinkedIn

Ivana joined the Local Data Company in 2010 and leads the company’s technology team in development of solutions across wide range of platforms, from mobile technology, data warehousing and Web applications, to company innovation projects such as using Machine Learning to optimise field data collection. Ivana has 20 years experience in development and business analytics and has the unique gift of conveying client dreams into reality, which has resulted in LDC being at the forefront of data modelling, visualization and dashboards. She is also responsible for challenging all we do with the question ‘So what?’. In her spare time Ivana maintains her high standard of swimming followed by visits to art galleries and listening to jazz. Ivana was appointed as a Director in December 2016.

• Connect with Ivana Mogin on LinkedIn

Veronique joined the Local Data Company in 2008, having spent 15 years working with large research and client-facing teams in France and the UK. As an accredited coach with a Master’s degree in Business Psychology, she is passionate about helping people to recognise their talent and reach their full potential. In her dual role as Operations and People Director, Veronique oversees our research processes and procedures to ensure our data is as accurate and robust as possible, and manages our company strategy to attract the best talent and support the professional development of everyone on the team. In her spare time, she enjoys walks and golf, and practises yoga, qigong and meditation.

• Connect with Veronique Salle-Fertat on LinkedIn

Melissa joined the Local Data Company in 2016 following a short career break after working for national grid in a variety of financial and operational senior management roles. She has a degree in economics and went on to train with PriceWaterhouse in 1995. In her spare time Melissa enjoys walking her black lab Blake, is treasurer of Bough Beech Sailing Club and is a trustee for a school charity.

• Connect with Melissa Edwards on LinkedIn

Lucy joined the Local Data Company with experience from her time at CACI and now heads up commercial relationships across the retail, leisure, advisory, investor and private equity verticals. Lucy’s current role involves building and maintaining long-term relationships within some of the UK’s leading brands, working in partnership with occupiers and investors providing data, technology and analytics to power location strategy, competitor tracking, due diligence and portfolio optimisation. Outside of the Local Data Company, Lucy is a long term supporter of retailTrust, the leading industry charity and having most recently been Chair of the organising committee for the retailTrust London Celebration is now an ambassador.

• Follow Lucy Stainton on Twitter @LocalDataCo
• Connect with Lucy Stainton on LinkedIn

As Head of Insight & Analytics, Ronald works with clients across a range of verticals, applying our proprietary data to complex strategic questions. In addition, he manages LDC’s academic partnerships with several UK universities, helping to support PhD, Master’s and graduate students and aiding new research on the retail sector. His expert contributions have featured in the FT, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Sunday Times, to name a few examples, and he has spoken at a wealth of industry events, including in his recurring role as an expert panellist at our annual Summits. Outside of work, Ronald enjoys competitive sports— he is a keen footballer and squash player— and pursuing his interests in stocks and crowdfunding, which he reports has had mixed success to date.

• Connect with Ronald Nyakairu on LinkedIn

Katie is one of our longest-standing team members, having joined the Local Data Company in 2008. In that time she has lovingly watched Margate turn its fortunes around from one of the most challenged towns into the success it has become today. She continues to be its biggest champion! Katie manages both the field research and data quality control teams, having worked her way up from a data entry clerk when she first joined the business. She loves to travel and is an aspiring writer of short stories.

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Hannah has been part of the team since 2018. As Creative Lead, Hannah is responsible for the development of the LDC Group's visual identity, using her expertise in branding, web design and data visualisation.

• Connect with Hannah Badley on LinkedIn

Leanne joined the Local Data Company in 2019 as a Team Assistant to the Sales & Marketing team. She is responsible for assisting the whole team but predominately supporting Lucy (head of retail) with diary management and general administration tasks. Leanne is also involved with organising social activities and charity fundraising in the office. Leanne has a background working in financial services and completed a business studies apprenticeship after leaving sixth form. She is a big lover of dogs and in her spare time she loves to travel.

Whilst studying for her degree in Geography at the University of Reading, Emma held many job roles in the customer service industry which has led to her client focused approach. Emma’s love for travel meant that after she graduated, she travelled to Australia where she spent six months embracing the lifestyle and seeing all the sights.”

• Connect with Emma Bowen on LinkedIn

Katie joined the Local Data Company in 2019 and is responsible for building new business relationships in the retail property and investment space. From her previous roles in the retail industry, Katie brings with her an extensive understanding of the sector and takes particular pride in building strong, lasting relationships with clients. Outside of the office, she enjoys travelling and reading, and is also a keen baker.

• Connect with Katie Girdwood on LinkedIn

With a background in copywriting and social media management, Sarah supports the team with digital and written communication, proofreading external communications, editing LDC's insight reports and curating content for the company's social media channels and website. She enjoys creating engaging, yet accessible, copy that speaks to our broad client base. 

Sam joined the team in 2021, having just graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Business Economics. Her Client Services role involves supporting LDC’s many clients, assisting them with any problems or queries they may have. Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks and playing lacrosse.

With a degree in Geography, Kate joined the team in 2021 as an Insight Analyst, bringing four and half years’ worth of retail expertise and analytical experience from her time as a merchandiser for Missguided and Boden. In her spare time, she is a keen tennis player and snowboarder, and can often be found planning her next holiday or restaurant visit.

Matt joined LDC in 2021, with an MSc in Statistics and over 20 years’ experience as a Lead Product Manager for Fantasy League, where he was responsible for data interrogation and analysis. As a Data Analyst, Matt supports the Insight and Analytics team on a range of projects, and his keen eye for data discrepancies aids in data and forecast validation for Edge Analytics’ school place planning facility. He has also been a junior county table tennis champion, a single-figure handicap golfer and a participant on the TV quiz show Fifteen to One.

After completing her degree in Retail, Marketing & Management, Hayley went on to build a successful career between 2009 and 2019 as a merchandiser working for established retailers such as Arcadia and The White Company. Her last two roles at The White Company and Soho House (Cowshed) were maternity cover contracts and, because of her career moves, she is highly adaptable. A vast proportion of Hayley's role as Merchandiser was dedicated to numbers: data collection and data analysis working with raw data focused on stores, individual products, product lines, stock management, sales and returns.

Amelia has a background in sales and geography, having earned a BA in Geography from Leeds University. As our newest Business Development Manager at LDC, she works to support the Sales team in growing our retail business. Outside of work, she is a keen traveller and enjoyed backpacking and seeing new countries before the pandemic- she's been to six of the seven continents!

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After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a degree in corporate communications and marketing, Albert gained a wealth of experience as a business development manager; with specialist experience in supporting FMCG brands, start-ups and SaaS businesses, Albert has a deep understanding of the intersection between physical retail and technology. At LDC, he works with a diverse base of clients across the GB market, and is particularly interested in supporting innovative businesses looking to shake up the status quo. In his spare time, Albert can be found in the company of family and friends, enjoying a good outdoor run, or remembering his former stint as a drummer in a ska reggae band.

Kayleigh started at the Local Data Company in 2010. This was her first full-time position and she has never looked back. Her responsibilities include data quality control, updating our database of multiple retailers and maintaining supplier relationships. Kayleigh is a devoted mum and can be seen most weekends hanging upside down on climbing frames with her son.

Alison joined the Local Data Company in March 2015 having worked for 22 years in Product Development in the greeting card industry. She now works as part of the data quality control team, verifying data that comes in from the field and keeping our data on multiples up to date. She also is responsible for the installation and ongoing maintenance of clients’ footfall devices. She is a keen crafter and regularly sells handmade items at craft fairs. She also does as much as she can protect hedgehogs which are declining rapidly in the UK.

• Connect with Alison Callaway on LinkedIn

As Client Delivery Manager, Joseph works diligently to ensure that our clients receive accurate and prompt data for their bespoke projects.  Joseph’s role at the Local Data Company provided him with a change of direction from previous roles in event management. He worked at events such as F1 UK, Crufts and the Royal Windsor Horse show. He has not one, but two degrees in Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry. Joseph has been part of the Operations team since 2019.

Kelly joined the Operations team as a Data Quality Controller in December 2019 (just in time for the Christmas party!) and has plenty of experience in quality control as she previously worked as an environmental technician, conducting indoor testing in homes and workplaces. She has since been promoted to Office Team Manager. Kelly is our only team member from the Southern Hemisphere as she originates from New Zealand.

Vanessa graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Neuroscience, after which she undertook various projects with companies involving data handling. She brings a detailed, methodical approach to her work as a Data Quality Controller, where she is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the data sent to us from the field. In her free time, she enjoys spin classes and yoga.

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Anthony is originally from South Wales, where he spent 10 years working for the Office for National Statistics in Newport. He then joined LDC’s Operations team in 2010, where he worked for 10 years, and has since transferred to the Technology team. Now, Anthony provides first line technical support for LDC’s software systems, including SQL query coding for data exports. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid computer gamer and enjoys practising astrology and divination— he has been known to carry a deck of tarot cards with him and offer readings on request!

• Connect with Anthony Wheatstone on LinkedIn

José has been managing complex IT software development projects for over 10 years now – including the re-design of a complex supply chain migration tool working with technologies ranging from SQL, Hadoop, and Google’s Compute Engine. José is a passionate advocate for Agile methodologies and in his last two roles he successfully led the transformation towards Agile methods of working, thinking and collaborating – to drive productivity and improved communications. At the Local Data Company, José works with a team of talented developers and data scientists and has previously led the development of a cutting-edge footfall sensor and many, complex supporting systems. In his spare time, José likes to code, hit the gym, travel and walk his dog.

• Connect with José Copovi-King on LinkedIn

Aidan has worked at the Local Data Company since 2012. Before joining Aidan was involved in hardware maintenance, giving him a well-rounded knowledge of all things technical. Aidan enjoys short walks on the beach (long ones are far too close to exercise and take you out of range of the WiFi…) and he spends most of his spare time running around after his two children, affectionally nicknamed the ‘noise machines’.

• Connect with Aidan Booker on LinkedIn

Ian has spent 20 years working in IT, starting out at a programmer in the defence sector and is happiest when he gets to be hands-on with code. Ian joined the Technology team in 2019 and was initially brought in to work on the range of proprietary technologies that formed our footfall tracking product. He is a self-confessed ‘unusual sports’ fan having played ultimate frisbee in the past. He now enjoys a game of SUP Polo, which is Polo, but played on a stand-up paddleboard!

In the past 7 years, Silvio has been working as a software developer in the financial industry and gained experience in a wide range of technologies and methodologies, leveraging a quantitative approach developed during his studies in Mathematical Engineering. He likes programming, enjoys addressing complex problems and always looking for opportunities to learn something new. When he is not writing code, he spends most of the time with his kids, trying to get them passionate about non-screen related activities like playing music or sports. To switch off, he likes running and working out to the sound of hard rock music.

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