Who does it
FT Live is a global business.
We are a team of over 100 events professionals across the globe delivering over 200 events a year. And we are supported by the FT’s broader network of editorial, tech and financial expertise.
Our events influence decision makers around the world. Our attendees come from more than 200 different countries representing a truly global audience.
Who does it
FT Live is a global business.
We are a team of over 100 events professionals across the globe delivering over 200 events a year. And we are supported by the FT’s broader network of editorial, tech and financial expertise.
Our events influence decision makers around the world. Our attendees come from more than 200 different countries representing a truly global audience.
The Senior Leadership Team
Orson Francescone, Managing Director, FT Live
Creating value out of organised chaos, think Jack Welch and Leonard Bernstein and you're nearly there.
orson.francescone@ft.com +44 (0)20 7873 3405
Top tip for your career at the FT
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THINK BIG!
”
Tania Marshall, Global Marketing Director, FT Live
I am responsible for FT Live's marketing efforts and activities across inbound and outbound channels, data & campaign management, and design. My role is to ensure that the team is aligned with strategic priorities, drives delegate revenue growth, and elevates the FT Live brand globally. I am also a part of the FT's Senior Management Group and the Global Marketing Council and contribute to the FT's broader strategic and commercial objectives.
tania.marshall@ft.com +44 (0)7912 188466
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Ask questions, provide solutions, get involved, have fun.
”
Jeff Wagner, Global Head of Content, FT Live
I am responsible for content across all of FT Live's events – both core, multi-sponsored conferences and bespoke, single-sponsored strategic solutions. I manage a team of permanent and freelance content editors and am the main contact with the FT journalists who chair all our events.
jeff.wagner@ft.com +44 (0)7899 915559
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Be creative while always keeping commercial objectives and processes in mind.
”
Ed Cutts, Global Head of Commercial
As Global Head of Commercial I am responsible for all FT Live revenues. In my role, I direct our commercial strategy and manage FT Live's sponsorship, delegate sales, and customer services teams globally. I also represent FT Live commercially within the FT Senior Management Group.
edward.cutts@ft.com +44 (0)7872 158722
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As well as gaining a full understanding of FT Live's business make sure to engage with colleagues in other departments in order to understand the FT brand as a whole.
”
Diana Whittington, Special Projects Director
I am the special projects director at FT Live. Special projects look after a number of different portfolios, including commodities events, Africa Summit and various awards - Business Book of the Year Award, Boldness in Business, Prix Pictet and Transformational Business.
diana.whittington@ft.com +44 (0)7793 697842
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Read the FT and familiarise yourself with what it does!
”
Cat Stokes, Global Director of Partner Events
I am responsible for heading up the Partner Events team within FT Live.
cat.stokes@ft.com +44 (0)7984 604162
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The culture and people are great. Ask lots of questions and get stuck in!
”
Claire Arpa, Head of FT Live, Americas
My key objectives include accelerating growth and strengthening the events offering within the Americas region, overseeing the US FT Live team, and maintaining an open and collaborative culture with internal and external stakeholders.
claire.arpa@ft.com +1 917 551 5045
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Be curious, collaborative, open to new ideas and ways of doing things, and willing to share learnings.
”
Daniel Greenwood, Director of Event Delivery
I manage the operations team that deliver all the logistical elements of the FT Live global event portfolio
daniel.greenwood@ft.com +44 (0) 7526 922435
“
Read the FT!
”
Mark Downie, Head of Specialist Events
I lead the specialist events team at FT Live, and I am responsible for all event activity under the FT Specialist brands, including core events, specialist-branded strategic solutions, and awards. FT Specialist is composed of 17 brands, providing niche audience groups with information that helps them take better decisions and operate more effectively.
mark.downie@ft.com +44 (0)7592 590714
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Dedicate time to building your internal network - it’s a great way to find new opportunities for collaboration across the FT group.
”
Natasha Wood, Head of Strategy
As Head of Strategy, my role is to optimise the current business and help plot the trajectory of our business in the future. I work across multiple business areas delivering strategic initiatives which underpin FT Live's growth and expansion. I'm involved in a variety of projects from technology procurement to event pricing strategy to product development and building business cases for investment.
+44 (0)7783 829152
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Be relentlessly curious. Ask questions. Adopt a growth mindset.
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Leyla Boulton, Development Editor, FT Live, Senior Editor, FT
My mission is to accelerate collaboration between editorial and FT events to make the events as great as they can be and to diversify the journalists we deploy on FT Live and the FT’s other events businesses.
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Welcome to the home of the smart, humane and curious, working to make the world a better place
”
Other key people
Sophie Roberts, Commercial Support Executive
My role is executive assistant to Orson (MD), Ed (Global Head of Commercial) and also the support for the commercial team with admin and salesforce assistance.
sophie.roberts@ft.com +44 (0)20 7873 3755
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Embrace any opportunities that come your way!
”
Lucy Allen, Senior Finance Manager, FT Live & FT Specialist
As a Senior Finance Manager, my role involves supporting the Managing Directors, Senior Leadership Teams and the wider businesses of FT Live & FT Specialist to aid delivery of our short to long term strategic objectives; alongside my brilliant team, we achieve this through forward planning, analysis & modelling of our financial performance.
lucy.allen@ft.com +44 (0)20 7775 6984
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Don't be afraid to ask questions - be curious, inquisitive & brave enough to drive change and challenge the norm.
”
James Webb, Product Director Community
I lead our product team efforts to find ways to grow digital membership and subscriptions revenue for the Community strategy at the FT. In 2021 we're working closely with our events businesses to transition them into thriving digital experiences. Our vision is to leverage the collective intelligence and authority of our professional audiences, providing a place to connect, exchange ideas, learn and do business.
james.webb@ft.com +44 (0)7725 218214
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The FT is a complex organisation made up of many teams, departments, each with their own little subcultures - that with the best intentions, don't always pull in the same direction. Getting to know how all of the networks interact with each other will help you find a happy and successful path.
”
Nikola Ivanov, Principal Engineer
Tech lead for the Community pillar - leading on tactical and strategic solutions for the evolution of both the technical estate of the Events businesses but also the common identity across FT.com and the Events businesses.
Principal engineer for the Membership Platform - leading the team of engineers who are responsible for the technical evolution of the Membership Platform.
nikola.ivanov@ft.com +359889352462
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Don't worry if you don't know the answer to something, there is always someone to help you, so don't be shy - ask.
”
Amanda Burns, Delivery Director
My role as a delivery director is to ensure we have the capability and capacity to deliver our product and technology strategy - to know what course we need to lay in and what our destination looks like, then keep the ship steady and moving, ensure we have a happy healthy crew, and navigate around the many hurdles we encounter along the way. On a day to day that might mean managing our funding, securing resources, tackling risks before they become issues, creating plans, sharing progress and liaising with the many teams we work with both inside and outside of P&T.
amanda.burns@ft.com +44 (0)7910 049530
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Meet, talk, listen and learn from as many people as possible outside your area.
”
Jake Wilson, Head of HR, APAC and HR Business Partner, FT Live
I provide strategic support across all HR areas including; people planning, organisational development and design, talent and engagement strategies, mergers and acquisitions, compensation and benefits, and diversity & inclusion.
jake.wilson@ft.com +852 2905 5572
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Take the opportunity to try new things and get out of your comfort zone!
”
Zoe Aldam, Senior Legal Counsel, FT Live
I am the legal point person for FT Live. My team supports contract negotiations, provides advice on data protection and other compliance issues, and can give you a legal perspective on business strategies or problems. We're here to help you understand and navigate legal and compliance risks, make good choices, realise opportunities and achieve your goals and those of the wider business.
zoe.aldam@ft.com T +44 (0)20 7873 3951
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The value of communication and collaboration cannot be underestimated - don't hold back in sharing your ideas and plans.
”
Angela Mackay, Global Publisher, FT Live and Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Financial Times
Based in Hong Kong, she is a member of the FT’s global board. As Global Publisher for FT Live, Mackay leads business and strategy development for conferences, events and communities, including FT Forums and Board Director Programme.