Tony Kane, Founder director of Touchpoint Communications & Chairperson for the Awards

Tony is founding director of Touchpoint communications which is part of the Carat Media group, where his relentless passion for the customer is helping major brands optimise the consumer’s end to end multi-channel experience. He has over 20 years experience in the multi-channel retail industry as a founding director of the Next Directory board, MD of Kaleidoscope / Otto Versand group, MD of Britannia Music and a board director of Universal Music group. He’s a well known industry figure, helping shape the industry landscape during a period of significant change, as an executive director of the Direct Marketing Association, an elected member of the Advisory Council and regional chair.

Damon Mannion – Chief Operating Officer

Damon joined Venda in 2005 with over 15 years of technology leadership, retail experience and operational excellence. As Venda’s COO he is responsible for the design and build of all the Convergent Commerce solutions (eCommerce, mobile, social, store, etc.), and to date has delivered several hundred global solutions for some of the world’s leading brands and retailers. After implementation, he manages the customers’ enhancement roadmaps to further increase the success of their businesses. He is also responsible for the Group’s governance, through the project management office, and actively develops and promotes Venda’s new channel programmes and developer community. Prior to joining Venda: in 2000, he launched Mothercare’s award-winning first eCommerce site/operation; in 2003, he joined Silverscreen as IT Director – helping grow the brand from a few stores, to become the UK’s largest specialist DVD retailer in 2005.

Hedley Aylott, Summit Media

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Music Composition, Hedley Aylott’s route to leadership of a Top 10 digital marketing company is, to say the least, unconventional.In 1995, he worked with a group of prisoners in Manchester’s HMP Strangeways, recording and releasing a Top 40 single, before staging two rock operas at HMP Wolds in East Yorkshire – and winning a BAFTA in the process. Continuing his groundbreaking work with prisoners, Hedley launched Summit Media in 2001 at HMP Wolds to provide online strategy, marketing and technology to businesses whilst establishing a rehabilitation programme for prisoners. Summit helps retailers transform the way they trade online, working with some of the UK’s most successful retailers, including Argos, Homebase, Comet, Selfridges, Carpetright, and 3. Today Summit turns over £30m, employs 120 staff with offices in Yorkshire, London and Prague. Summit has also trained over 450 prisoners and employed over 20 following their release from prison. Voted the Most Innovative Person in Digital Marketing by eConsultancy and winner of the 2008 ‘42 under 42’ award for Innovation, Hedley is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker about all aspects of business, retail and an internet evangelist.

Chris Brassington, Starfish 360

Chris is the CEO of Starfish 360, a company that provides mobile commerce expertise for the Retail Sector, with clients such as JD Williams and the Coop Group. Starfish 360 became the first mobile commerce business to take up IMRG Senate membership in January 2012.Having worked in the technology industry for over 20 years, Chris is a big fan of new thinking and technological development, and is very aware of the prominence technology potentially has in business, especially via mobile devices. His passion for mobile commerce and innovative multi- channel marketing is infectious. Chris is an accomplished business leader. He has won a number of awards and accolades including a commendation at the UK Innovation and Growth Forum 2006 for the category “Technology CEO of the Year (Private Firm).” With previous positions held at companies such as Cap Gemini Ernst and Young (CGEY), BT, CPW, 2ergo Plc and NCR, he has a deep rooted knowledge of the industry and a keen eye on the future. Chris holds an MBA with distinction from Manchester Business School.

Patricia Davidson, Author, Founder of the thesiteguide.com

Patricia Davidson is the author of six books about online shopping for consumers, the latest being The Shopaholic’s Top 1000 Websites. She runs www.thesiteguide.com, a luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle online shopping directory and also writes the blog www.glamoursleuth.com which includes weekly web advice for small to medium size online retailers. Patricia also runs an independent e-retail consultancy.

Peter Fitzgerald, Country Sales Director, Google UK

Peter is the Country Sales Director for Google UK, responsible for leading e-commerce initiatives.  This involves the management of sales and account management teams that share the benefits of Google advertising solutions and other products directly to senior-level executives and their agencies. Previously, Peter worked for over 8 years with Amazon.com.  As Director of Business Development, Peter was responsible for UK sales and account management of multi-channel retail accounts, like Marks and Spencer and Mothercare, within Amazon Enterprise Solutions Europe, which develops and maintains e-commerce solutions for retailers that leverage the technical platform, operational capabilities, professional services and online retailing expertise of Amazon.com.Prior to that, Peter had responsibility for the Amazon UK Marketplace business which comprised of Sales, Account Management and Technical Account Management.  Peter also drove the launch of the Apparel store on Amazon.com, which was the fastest growing store in the history of Amazon.com and was the launch partnered with Nordstrom, Target, Lands' End, Eddie Bauer, Old  Navy, Marshall Field's, Foot Locker and other leading apparel companies.  Lastly, Peter launched the patented feature Search Inside! ™ (formerly known as 'Look Inside The Book') on Amazon.com which was an entirely new way for customers to find and discover books by searching the full text inside them which scaled to over 120,000 books -- more than 33 million pages of searchable text.

Michelle Fuller, Director, eDigitalResearch

Michelle is a founding Director of eDigitalResearch with ultimate responsibility for corporate strategy and managing the growth of the business. She also plays an important part in product development, sales and marketing and account management. Michelle founded the company along with Chris Russell in 1999. The company was formed after a gap in the market was identified for online mystery shopping to assess usability and levels of customer experience on websites, as is standard practice on the high street. eMysteryShopper was developed which became the basis for eDigital Research. This service was quickly followed by eCustomerOpinions and eGlobalPanel.Michelle has been involved in customer service and internet development since the inception of ecommerce and as a result is recognised as a pioneering industry authority on online survey technology. In her spare time Michelle is a keen sailor and subsequently eDigitalResearch has become a longstanding corporate sponsor of International sailing regatta Cowes Week..

George Ioannou, Head of Agency; Maginus

George Ioannou has spent over fifteen years working within digital, specialising in e-commerce and online marketing. As a creative and strategist, his experience spans a variety of sectors including retail, media and entertainment, automotive and financial. He has worked globally with clients ranging from small businesses through to Fortune 100 companies.

Nathan Jackson, Vice President Sales & Business Development, UK

Nathan comes from a background of over 25 years of experience in technology and the European electronic payment and risk management sector. Recently appointed by Credorax, a leading provider of Smart Acquiring Solutions, he is responsible for the company's commercial activities, strategic development, alliances and partnerships in the UK. With a vast history in the CNP sector, Nathan recently served as Vice President at Chase Paymentech Europe, where he was in charge of several areas including: Business Development, Client Services, Merchant Support and Technical Services. Previously, Nathan was Managing Director of CyberSource (a Visa company), spearheading the company's activities in the UK, Europe and Asia and before that, managed the secure payment  solutions at Bottomline Technologies, Europe, Ltd, (NASDAQ: EPAY). Nathan has also held various positions in IT Operations, Sales and Marketing at Unisys. A Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Nathan is a frequent speaker on payment and fraud topics in Europe.

Frazer Locke, Trading Director, Asda

A well established retail professional with over 20 years experience within the store operations, supply chain, buying and eCommerce functions of some major international retailers, including J Sainsbury's, Arcadia, DSGi, Comet, Screwfix Direct, Toys R Us, Gamestation (latterly Game Group) and Asda.Frazer joined Leeds based Supermarket giant Asda in September 2009 to head up their Online operation for Music, Video & Games (MVG), building a new MVG website and fulfilment infrastructure for the Asda direct platform which successfully launched in September 2011.  In October 2011, he was promoted to the position of Trading Director for Asda direct, responsible for the Trading elements of Asda's General Merchandise site, as well as their partner White Label sites, their Asda Extra in-store proposition and more recently their B2B operation across all channels.He has spent over 5 years within the eCommerce arena and has been a member of the IMRG throughout this time. His favourite team is QPR - but don't hold that against him!!!

Camilla Nightingale, Director e-Commerce and Direct Sales, Smythson

Camilla began her career at Tiffany & Co. UK launching and developing e-commerce initially for the UK with subsequent development into 8 additional European markets with responsibilities for strategic planning, site development, marketing, distribution and customer service. In 2011 she joined Smythson, the British luxury leather and stationery brand, to lead and expand their global e-commerce strategy.

Keith Reville, General Manager eCommerce, Electrocomponents plc

Keith Reville is General Manager eCommerce at Electrocomponents. He joined the company in November 2010 and holds global responsibility for defining and implementing the Group's global eCommerce strategy to build a £1Bn+ eCommerce business at the heart of the company. Keith is orchestrating the use of several innovative marketing initiatives to reach and influence customers. These, combined with emerging eCommerce technologies, are significantly increasing the company’s product offering and the visibility of its strategic suppliers. Keith has been instrumental in developing an improved multi-channel customer approach. The recent launch of a more customer-centric eCommerce website follows extensive research to better understand what customers really want from the company. Significant changes to the site’s design, functionality and performance have transformed the customers’ online journey. Keith is also focussed on changing the culture within the Electrocomponents Group to become more like the global force in B2B eCommerce that it is and regularly encourages all levels of the organisation to be more e-centric in their thinking. The development of an eCommerce-focussed business has already resulted in numerous successes and will continue to change the way in which the company works with and services its customers. Before joining Electrocomponents, Keith was Director of Online Sales for Orange UK Ltd where he was responsible for the company’s online mobile store and telesales operations. His previous roles include Director of eBusiness at Hilton International Ltd and Head of Dotcom Sales at Thomas Cook UK. Keith holds a BEng (Hons) in Offshore Engineering from Heriot-Watt University. He is also a member of InternetRetailing and The Marketing Society.

Joanna Stephenson, Senior Online Marketing Manager, Debenhams

Joanna has over 12 years ecommerce experience at Debenhams in numerous roles. Having trained as a chartered accountant at Coopers and Lybrand, she joined the Debenhams finance team initially before getting involved in ecommerce, and never looking back! Joanna has led the online marketing team at Debenhams from the beginning , optimising the digital marketing channels and mix along the way, as well as establishing and growing the internal team and specialist agencies. She currently heads up the UK digital marketing team, including search, affiliates, shopping comparison and retargeting, as well as mobile commerce and marketing.

Patrick Wall, CEO and Co-founder, MetaPack

Patrick is co-founder and CEO of MetaPack, the delivery management solution specialists. Previously he has worked with retailers as the General Manager of a national carrier, a consultant with McKinsey and a Cadbury Schweppes executive.

Chris Webster, Vice President, Head of Retail Consulting and Technology, Capgemini

Chris is VP, Head of Retail Consulting at Capgemini who are one of the global leaders in Management and IT Consulting helping retail clients with their Multi-Channel strategies and delivery. For the past 5 years, Capgemini has partnered with the IMRG to track the eRetail market within the UK through the IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index.  He specialises in working with retailers to shape and deliver large scale technology enabled transformation programmes and in recent years this has increasingly focused on Multi-Channel and eCommerce in particular.  He is currently leading Capgemini’s work helping one of the UK’s leading grocers to shape their Multi-Channel operating model and implementation programme.Prior to leading Capgemini’s Retail sector, Chris led the Retail Supply Chain team which focused on the end to end retail supply chain from merchandise planning, assortment planning, forecasting, allocation, replenishment and store operations.  Increasingly, these capabilities within retail have been impacted by the shift to Multi-Channel and now are seen as part of the end to end Multi-Channel Operating Model.  Chris led several large programmes including the post-merger integration of the UK’s leading gaming retailer and a supply chain transformation programme for one of the UK’s leading fashion apparel retailers.In his past, Chris led Capgemini’s European Supply Chain Practice and ran the judging process for the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards in partnership with Logistics Europe.