Over 5 years James rebranded many iconic global beverages including all of Coca Cola’s ‘billion dollar brands’. Calling in from Atlanta, and with a blend of global success and Yorkshire realism, he will share a unique perspective of how brands and companies can differentiate themselves in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simon is CEO of The EO Group which leverages a proprietary e-commerce platform to target small to medium sized businesses in the Office Supplies industry. Through trading their direct channels such as Euroffice and partnering with resellers through Office Power, over the last decade, group revenues have grown from £18m to £50m. As well as Chairing the BOSS Federation, Simon is the Chairman of 15Gifts, a TMT focused software business in Brighton. He has a Henley MBA. Simon will chair a discussion with leading industry figures on the Future of the UK business supplies sector post COVID-19.

Beth Wright is a high energy, results-driven, office products executive who currently serves as VP of Sales, Americas at Fellowes Brands. She is responsible for the Business Products Channel for the company. A 20+ year veteran of the office supplies business, Beth is a very high profile figure with considerable industry experience in a number of channels, both in Europe as well as in her homeland USA. In 2017, while serving as Bi-silque’s Chief Commercial Officer, Beth was named Professional of the Year by the judging panel for the prestigious European Office Products Awards.

Alex has been in the UK IT Distribution channel for 25 years. With a degree from Durham University in Zoology, Alex qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in 1987. Alex joined newly listed Ideal Hardware in 1995 and served time as Head of the Ideal Institute (training), Head of European Sales, Commercial Director and UK Managing Director before joining Westcoast as Sales & Marketing Director in 2008. He was promoted to Managing Director in 2014. Theale based Westcoast were a £700m business in 2008 and now boast sales of £2.8bn (y/e 31 Dec 2019). The business is the UK’s largest distributor of HPI, HPE, Microsoft, Apple, Lexmark, Lenovo as well as printer supplies and spares. This year (2020) the business will do over £3bn. Westcoast is the current HPE Global Distributor of the Year and is 18th on the Sunday Times Top Track list of privately owned UK companies. Alex is always lively, unafraid to express an opinion and has been voted IT Channel Personality of the Year. He will participate in the Future of the UK business supplies sector post COVID-19 panel.

Steve Hilleard is Chief Executive Officer of Office Products International (OPI), a media organisation dedicated to providing a wide range of information, products and services to the global office supplies sector. The company’s flagship title OPI, produced ten times per year, is distributed in print and online to industry participants in over 100 countries. Published since 1991, OPI provides monthly analysis of industry trends and news, and daily coverage of the sector’s most influential companies, executives and products. OPI also publishes Independent Dealer magazine, the leading monthly publication for the US business products industry. Steve will host a global panel who will consider the effects of the pandemic on the business supplies industry around the world and the different approach each country is taking on the road to recovery.

Michael Makin was appointed Executive Vice President of PRINTING United Alliance on May 1, 2020 following the merger of Printing Industries of America and the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association. He previously served as PIA’s President and CEO for almost 20 years. Born and raised in Montréal, Canada, Mr. Makin attended Carleton University in Ottawa where graduated with honors with a degree in Journalism. He also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. After a brief stint in journalism and as a public affairs officer with the Canadian government, he began his career in association management more than 30 years ago. Prior to joining Printing Industries of America, Mr. Makin was President of the Canadian Printing Industries Association and for almost 10 years served as an executive with the Canadian Construction Association. He has served as the Chairman of the World Print and Communications Forum, based in Brussels, since 2008.

Mehjabeen has some revealing insights to share about how truthfulness wins and just how to present a successful creative pitch – winning business, funding or an equity investment. She is Creative England’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer, responsible for the implementation and running of all operating functions across the company. With extensive experience as a Finance Director, Mehjabeen oversees all investment activity for the company and has a keen interest in growing its commercial activities and diversifying its income streams.

Roger Marsh has been Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) since 2013 and during that time has led the LEP through a period of significant transformation, including securing the country’s largest ever Local Growth Deal with Government. Roger chairs the recently formed NP11 which brings together the 11 Northern LEPs to work with the Northern Powerhouse Minister to support the Government’s vision for the Northern Powerhouse. He also chairs the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Strategic Oversight Board and the European Structural & Investment Fund Local Sub Committee. Before joining the LEP, Roger was Senior Partner at PwC and boasts over 30 years’ experience in the private sector. In 2015, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list for Services to Business and the Economy.

Eve leads on Economic Development at Leeds City Council where she is responsible for bringing forwards the delivery framework for the city’s Inclusive Growth Strategy. Eve also leads on economic policy, business growth support, inward investment and visitor economy. Eve is a member of the Leadership Group of the Chamber of Commerce and a Director of North Invest. Prior to joining Leeds City Council Eve worked for NHS Digital where she established a nationwide implementation team to support the delivery of major national IT programmes across health and care. She remains passionate about all things digital and the potential that the digital revolution brings for people and businesses. When she is not at work Eve enjoys running with her local running club, Harrogate Harriers, and spending time with her family.

Brad O’Brien is CEO of Office Choice, Australia’s leading and longest-established office products dealer group. Since joining the business in late 2012, he has used his business prowess and vision to drive the group to seven consecutive years of growth. During this time, Brad has overseen its transformation from a traditional buying group to a leading branded business solutions provider. Brad’s passion is the support and championing of the independent dealer channel and the significance of the role they play in the SME sector and local communities across the country.

As Supplies and Transactional Print Channel Sales Director at HP Inc, Anna is responsible for the sales of supplies and transactional print through reseller partners across the UK and Ireland. She is responsible for delivering circa $500M in revenues PA through the channel. Over her 30 year career at HP, Anna has held a number of leadership roles spanning UK&I and EMEA regions and across a variety of functions, including distribution, reseller and retail channel as well as category and business development. She has through her career managed in various capacities all key sectors of HP’s business, including, print, supplies, PC, projector and storage products. She will participate in the ‘Future of the UK business supplies industry post COVID-19’ panel.