David Phillips, head of music, KOKO David Phillips is head of music at baroque Camden cool-kid destination, KOKO. Phillips has been responsible for myriad moments in London gig and club history, bringing diverse acts such as N.E.R.D, Roots Manuva, British Sea Power and Animal Collective to the KOKO stages, and has played host to legendary nights that include Guilty Pleasures, Club NME and Buttoned Down Disco.
Nicholas Canham, general manager, MPC Entertainment Nicholas Canham oversees the careers of almost 60 personalities, which includes entertainment stars and complete unknowns. 'I'm always on the lookout for the next great talent,' he says. 'I'm a huge believer that true talent will always win at the end of the day. I aim to be the person who helps deliver that dream.'
Markus Birdman, comedian Comedian Markus Birdman has had three sellout solo Edinburgh shows and was a finalist in the BBC's best newcomer awards. He has also supported Jimmy Carr, Mark Thomas and Russell Brand. 'My greatest achievement to date was getting Noel Fielding to bump-start my Capri in his pixie boots after we broke down near Lancaster.'
Nathan Gregory Wilkins, DJ, promoter, consultant and journalist Sound-tracking fashion shows for the likes of Giles Deacon, promoting club nights Private Party and ESP, DJing at parties for Prada, Marc Jacobs and Jarvis Cocker, and writing for Katie Grand's Pop magazine isn't enough for renaissance hipster Wilkins. He's just started his own record label History Clock.
Harry Lang, managing director, The Fridge Ltd As the founder of The Fridge, the world's first integrated marketing agency for the iGaming sector, Harry Lang understands players, and speaks at all the major gaming conferences, as well as writing articles. 'Gaming and marketing are my professional passions — I couldn't imagine having as much fun and success doing anything else,' he says.
Dan O'Neill, CEO, Lovebox Entertainments Ltd and Angle Management In 2006 Groove Armada approached Dan to get involved with their festival business, Lovebox. This year the business boasted global events, record profits and won best festival at the UK Festival Awards. For the past 2 years, O'Neill has also turned his hand to managing Groove Armada, negotiating a lucrative global brand partnership deal for them.
Natasha Kizzie, head of entertainment, KLP For the last 10 years, Natasha Kizzie has been working to bring brands and music together, and now, as head of entertainment at the specialist experimental marketing division of communications agency KLP, she likes to use creative strategies and channels for her numerous big-name clients, which include Bacardi among them.
Thomas Fowler, director, Phoenix Sports Management UK Ltd Phoenix Sports Management began in July 2007 with Thomas Fowler's personal loan of £20,000 — this year it is set to turn over £400,000. Fowler has successfully brokered three of the biggest deals in UK rugby this year after just a year of trading and Phoenix currently represents about 100 top-level rugby players.
Brett Harding, managing director, Lunchdate UK Ltd Singleton Brett Harding was consulting in Canary Wharf — and looking for love — when he devised Lovestruck.com: a city dating site that introduces people who work near each other for lunchtime and after-work dates. It's USP is a search facility based on tube stations and the site lets you look for love in major UK cities, as well as Dublin, New York, Chicago, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.
