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About HotTopics

About HotTopics

Connecting leaders, inspiring action

 

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We are HotTopics

The leading C-suite community

Our company's story is rooted in a vision for a more connected and inspired C-suite leadership. Our founder, Philip Randerson, spent over two decades at the helm of numerous leading technology executive search firms. Throughout his journey, he observed a growing disconnect among C-suite leaders, prompting him to leverage his vast network of influential executives to establish a global community that fosters collaboration, innovation, and the development of future leaders.

Launched with the support of our esteemed Chairman, Jim Spanfeller, the former CEO of Forbes, and Kevin Eyres the former CEO of LinkedIn Europe, our company began as a series of six annual events spanning the United States and Europe. Today, our community has expanded to include over 18,000 C-suite leaders, with 75% of the Fortune 500 counted among our distinguished members.

Join 18,000+ global leaders in the fastest-growing C-suite community

Find your community

 

CIO community
CISO community
CDigitalO community
CDataO community
CMO community
Service Visionaries

Global CIO & CTO community

Discover the HotTopics CIO community – a global platform for technology leaders to connect, collaborate, and drive the future of IT. dive into pivotal discussions from cyber security to AI and machine learning.

Global CIO community

Global CISO community

Dive into a secure network of the globe's premier CISOs. Foster invaluable relationships with cybersecurity experts from myriad industries and experiences. Together, let's orchestrate advanced security strategies, share robust best practices, and confront the cybersecurity challenges of today and beyond.

CISO Community

Global CDO community (Digital)

Embrace the digital revolution within a community of the world's leading Chief Digital Officers. Engage with digital masters from an array of backgrounds and sectors. Together, let's spark digital innovation, exchange groundbreaking strategies, and navigate the digital transformation landscape.

Chief Digital Officer Community

Global CDO community (Data)

Enter the realm of data excellence with a network of the world's most esteemed Chief Data Officers. Connect with data pioneers from a rich array of industries and experiences. Together, let's drive data-driven decision making, share valuable insights, and tackle the data-centric challenges of the modern business world.

Chief Data Officer Community

Global CMO community

Explore the HotTopics CMO community – a global network designed for marketing executives to share insights and shape the future of marketing. Discuss key topics from purpose marketing to data analytics.

CMO Community

Service Visionaries community

Introducing the Service Visionaries community – a worldwide gathering for customer service pioneers from sectors such as manufacturing and utilities. Unite, exchange, and shape the next wave of service innovation.

SERVICE VISIONARIES 100
TechGirl Winners Panel

Our purpose

We harness the power of community to inspire meaningful change. We connect leaders, facilitate conversations, and spark actions with a single, ambitious goal: to shape a better tomorrow.

Central to our mission is TechGirl, an initiative that embodies our belief in the transformative power of community. By bringing together inspirational leaders from globally renowned companies, we aim to nurture and empower the next generation of women in technology.

 

Meet the HotTopics team

Abigail Labaton

Abigail Labaton

Director of Event Production,

With 17 years of global experience, Abigail specialises in creating events and thought leadership for C-suite leaders. As Director of Event Production, she curates inspiring agendas for Fortune 500 companies and innovative organisations, overseeing both online and offline events, including our award-winning series, The Studio.

Amedeo Amore

Amedeo Amore

Head of Product,

As the Head of Product at HotTopics, Amedeo d'Amore brings a wealth of experience and passion for all things digital. With a deep understanding of the technology industry, Amedeo is an instrumental member of the HotTopics team, leading the charge in delivering cutting-edge products and solutions.

Aurelija Majauskaite

Aurelija Majauskaite

Community Lead,

With over eight years of experience in the events industry, Aurelija excels at connecting senior IT leaders and facilitating knowledge-sharing. As Community Lead at HotTopics, she enjoys building relationships with the community and collaborating closely with other teams to ensure events success.

Ceri Jones

Ceri Jones

Community Lead,

Ceri Jones leverages her experience leading C-suite engagement to build executive communities and partnerships at HotTopics. With expertise in connecting CIOs and Fortune 500 leaders, in her role as Community Lead she fosters knowledge-sharing and innovation through curated events and strategic relationships alongside the CMT team.

Dan Warburton

Dan Warburton

Director of Partnerships,

Dan is be responsible for delivering best-in-class client partnerships and campaigns, pushing the boundaries of service and creativity to drive client satisfaction and facilitate the continued growth of our global community.

Doug Drinkwater

Doug Drinkwater

Editorial and Strategy Director,

Doug is a business and technology writer, editor and strategist, whose work has appeared on CIO, CSO Online, InfoWorld, Internet Business Times, Macworld, Mashable, PCWorld, SC Magazine and The Week over a period of fifteen years.

Emma Randerson

Emma Randerson

Head of Events,

Emma, our Head of Events, excels in orchestrating impactful experiences for C-suite leaders. Her strategic planning and execution abilities have amplified HotTopics' reputation for delivering transformative, memorable events for our global leadership community.

Ffion Waddon

Ffion Waddon

Community Lead,

With a strong background in events management, Ffion Waddon is considered a hands-on professional who always perseveres to achieve the best results within her role. With a confidence in building relationships in and out of the workplace, Ffion is able to deliver excellent services to all.

Josh Sullivan

Josh Sullivan

Global Head of Partnerships,

Considered a highly successful and seasoned relationship-builder with more than 10 years of experience supporting GTM leaders in the Technology space, Josh will apply his skills in demand generation, business development and client relationship management to his role as Global Head of Partnerships at HotTopics.

Kani Talabani

Kani Talabani

Staff Writer,

With her background in journalism and her expertise in SEO and interview techniques, Kani is a key member of the editorial team. As Staff Writer, Kani is responsible for creating engaging and informative content that provides insights into the latest business trends and industry developments.

Katherine Jamieson

Katherine Jamieson

Client Success Executive,

Katherine Jamieson leverages her extensive experience in client-based roles at technology companies to manage communications with our technology partners and maximise ROI. In her role, she collaborates and works closely with the commercial team to meet all deliverables and provide regular updates to team leads and clients.

Laure Destribats

Laure Destribats

Brand and Creative Manager,

Laure has been a driving force in shaping the visual identity of our global C-suite community. Her expertise in creative storytelling, honed through her experience in motion graphics and video production, now extends to overseeing all aspects of our brand. As Brand and Creative Manager, Laure ensures that every visual element—from premium event experiences to global thought leadership—captures the essence of our community and reflects the excellence we strive for.

Mike Day

Mike Day

Digital Marketing Manager,

Mike is the Digital Marketing Manager at HotTopics. With a passion for creating and executing impactful social media strategies, Mike leads our team in creating engaging and memorable social media campaigns that drive growth, engagement and increase our online presence within the C-suite business community.

Nathan Mowbray

Nathan Mowbray

Head of Production,

With a demonstrated history of working in the online media industry, Nathan brings his expertise in film and television production to HotTopics as the Head of Production. Skilled in video, HD video, and remote thought leadership, Nathan has a proven track record of elevating HotTopics community insights into premium video and audio content.

Peter Stojanovic

Peter Stojanovic

Editor,

As the Editor of HotTopics, Peter leverages his extensive journalism experience, excelling in generating exceptional content and interviewing top-tier business leaders from FTSE 100 & 250 and Fortune 500 companies.

Sai Thanki

Sai Thanki

Community Lead,

With over 20 years of corporate, sales and management experience, Sai is considered passionate and people-centred with a knack for engaging and delivering business relationships. In her role as Community Lead, Sai supports the organisation by building, harnessing and maintaining relationships with our marketing and technology C-suite within the HotTopics community.

Wayne Ellis

Wayne Ellis

Marketing Director,

Wayne, a seasoned marketing professional, boasts over a decade of experience propelling growth for prominent brands like McLaren and the Institute of Directors. He excels in developing innovative strategies and has a deep understanding of digital technologies, and has a proven track record of turning complex legacy systems into effective digital ecosystems for online communities.

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Team
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Our vision

Our sights are set on leading as the most trusted and impactful global C-suite community. We aspire to be the essential platform for driving innovation, facilitating influential discussions, and sparking decisive actions.

Our vision encompasses a future where our community's contributions not only shape the business landscape but also foster a better tomorrow.

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Meet the HotTopics leadership team

Philip Randerson

Philip Randerson

CEO and Founder,

Philip is the Founder & CEO of HotTopics. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded several leading technology executive search firms, and sits on the Board of a number of technology start-ups.

Suzi Williams

Suzi Williams

NED,

Suzi has served as Chair and NED to JDSports, Telecom plus and Zegona Communications, currently leads the Advisory Board at Gresham House, and was previously CMO at BT.

Charles Yardley

Charles Yardley

NED,

Formerly the CEO of the Evening Standard and with leadership roles at Forbes and CityAM, Charles Yardley brings invaluable insights as a digital media leader. Charles will help HotTopics expand internationally and enrich our community.

Jim Spanfeller

Jim Spanfeller

Chair,

Jim is the former President and CEO of Forbes. Alongside his role at HotTopics, he is the CEO of G/O Medis and holds numerous Board positions across the media industry.

Kevin Eyres

Kevin Eyres

Advisory Board Member,

Kevin is a renowned business leader and visionary. He scaled LinkedIn in Europe as its first employee outside of the US, and has advised UK technology policy for UK Trade & Investment, as part of nearly 15 years of experience leading Silicon Valley businesses.

Contact the team

Our diverse team shapes our C-suite community, each offering unique insights and dedication
to connecting leaders and inspiring action.

CEO & Founder

Marketing Director

Director of Strategy

Director of Partnerships

Contact us

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Meet the HotTopics

technology advisory board

Our advisory board helps shape HotTopics' activities across the year, including The Studio.

 

Alejandro Becerra

Alejandro Becerra

CISO, Telefonica

Alison Davis

Alison Davis

CIO , GE Healthcare

Anna Barsby

Anna Barsby

CIO, 888 Holdings

Paul Smith

Paul Smith

Chief Information Officer, Amnesty International

Anna-Lisa Miller

Anna-Lisa Miller

CIO, Spectris

Avril Chester

Avril Chester

CTO, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Bradley Schaufenbuel

Bradley Schaufenbuel

CISO, PayChex

Brian Brackenborough

Brian Brackenborough

CISO, C4

Catherine Buhler

Catherine Buhler

CISO, Energy Australia

Charlotte Baldwin

Charlotte Baldwin

CDIO, Costa Coffee

Christina Scott

Christina Scott

CIO & CPO, OVO Energy

Christopher Neal

Christopher Neal

Global CISO, Ramsay Health Care

Conor Whelan

Conor Whelan

CIO, Experian

Deborah Wheeler

Deborah Wheeler

CISO, Delta Airlines

Donna Ross

Donna Ross

CISO, Radian

Eileen Jennings-Brown

Eileen Jennings-Brown

CIO, Exscientia

Freddie Quek

Freddie Quek

CTO, THS

George Eapen

George Eapen

CIO & CISO, Petrofac

Georgina Owens

Georgina Owens

CTO, William Hill International

Ian Cohen

Ian Cohen

CIO, Acacium Group

Inken Braunschmidt

Inken Braunschmidt

Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Halma

Itumeleng Makgati

Itumeleng Makgati

CISO, Standard Bank Group

Joanna Drake

Joanna Drake

CIO, THG

Juan Villamil

Juan Villamil

CIO, Imperial

Lauren Walker

Lauren Walker

MD Head Data Analytics UKI Europe, Accenture Song

Les McCollum

Les McCollum

CISO, UChicago Medical Center

Liz Banbury

Liz Banbury

CISO, Hiscox

Mark Walmsley

Mark Walmsley

Global CISO, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Norma Dove-Edwin

Norma Dove-Edwin

CIO, National Grid

Paul Coby

Paul Coby

CIO, Persimmon

Richard Newsome

Richard Newsome

Former CTO, Cancer Research UK

Robert Sheesley

Robert Sheesley

Group CIO, Wrench Group

Sarah Wilkinson

Sarah Wilkinson

COO & NED, Virgin Money

Vukosi Sambo

Vukosi Sambo

Executive Head of Data Insights, Afrocentric Group

Sarah Wilkinson

Sarah Wilkinson

COO, Virgin Money

Sandeep Seeripat

Sandeep Seeripat

Global Chief Transformation and Technology Officer, Twinings

Dominic Howson

Dominic Howson

Chief Information Officer, Viridor

Jason Oliver

Jason Oliver

Chief Digital Transformation Officer, University of Sussex

Alan Boehm

Alan Boehm

Former CTO, H&M Group

Walt Carter

Walt Carter

Chief Digital Officer, Homestar Financial Corporation

Meet the HotTopics

marketing advisory board

Our advisory board helps shape HotTopics' activities across the year, including The Studio.

 

Amit Sharma

Amit Sharma

Global Head, Field Marketing, Demand Generation & Sponsorships, Tata Communications

Angela O'Connell

Angela O'Connell

CMO, Juro

Aparna Jairam

Aparna Jairam

CMO, Hexaware Technologies

Bonnie Pelosi

Bonnie Pelosi

CMO UK, Microsoft

Chris Merrick

Chris Merrick

Senior Director, Global Marketing - Integrated Systems, Shure Incorporated

Emma Roffey

Emma Roffey

VP Marketing EMEAR, Cisco

Gemma Davies

Gemma Davies

Head of Global ABM x CXO Engagement, ServiceNow

Gareth Scragg

Gareth Scragg

Director, EMEA Portfolio & Demand Marketing, DXC Technology

John A Williams

John A Williams

Marketing Director & CMO EMEA, APAC, LatAm, Verizon

John Watton

John Watton

VP Marketing EMEA, VMware

Kritika Singh

Kritika Singh

Business Marketing Head UKI, Benelux & TMT, Europe, HCL Technologies

Lisa A Gilbert

Lisa A Gilbert

VP Brand & Content, Kyndryl

Mark Wheeler

Mark Wheeler

CMO, LeanIX

Matt Preschern

Matt Preschern

Chief Marketing and Demand Generation Officer, NTT

Matt Hooper

Matt Hooper

CMO, Quantexa

Mehul Kapadia

Mehul Kapadia

Chief Revenue Officer, Locus

Oliver Pilgerstorfer

Oliver Pilgerstorfer

CMO, IFS

Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas

CMO, Northumbria University

Rachel Fairley

Rachel Fairley

Global VP Brand Marketing, HPE

Rebecca Blackmore

Rebecca Blackmore

Senior Marketing Manager, OutSystems

Ruth Rowan

Ruth Rowan

CMO, Avanade

Ryan Nappi

Ryan Nappi

Marketing Director, Northern Europe, Tanium

Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas

Group CMO & EVP, Capgemini

Sarah Whipp

Sarah Whipp

CMO, Callsign

Shallu Behar-Sheehan

Shallu Behar-Sheehan

Marketing Transformation Advisor to Group CMO & EVP, Capgemini

Simon Edward

Simon Edward

VP, CMO & Client Experience Leader, IBM UKI, IBM

Steven Goddard

Steven Goddard

Senior Director, Marketing Programs, Nutanix

Steven Wastie

Steven Wastie

CMO, Immuta

Sumi Shukla

Sumi Shukla

VP EMEA & Global Partner Marketing, Riverbed Technology

Tina Morwani

Tina Morwani

Director, Global Campaigns, Snow Software

Tricia Stinton

Tricia Stinton

CMO, Capgemini

Utkarsh Srivastav

Utkarsh Srivastav

Global Manager and Head - Brand and Digital, L&T Technology Services

Van Diamandakis

Van Diamandakis

CMO, Vyond

Yafaa Ahres

Yafaa Ahres

Head of Marketing, Elsewhen

Join the leading C-suite community

To join the HotTopics Community and gain access to our exclusive content, events and networking opportunities simply fill in the form below.

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