Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has made another senior hire to his management team at FlightStory.
The Diary of CEO host has been busy beefing up his management team after announcing earlier this year he was moving to the US after signing a deal with the world’s No 1 talent agent, WME, to represent him in the USA.
Already this year:
- Jules Davies Marriott has taken on the role as chief of staff to Bartlett’s private office;
- Niki Aryana has been appointed FlightStory’s chairman;
- Amy Golding has joined as CEO of Bartlett’s private office;
- Harri Walsh has become FlightStory’s new head of happiness and health; and
- Former Warner Music Group VP Leon Farrell has joined FlightStory as product director.
Now the 32-year-old entrepreneur has recruited media industry veteran Claire Blunt to lead the agency’s finance and operations.
She previously served as chief advertising officer and CEO International at The Guardian Media Group, where she led global commercial strategy, overseeing advertising, international operations, and revenue growth during a period of digital transformation.
Blunt then became COO of Future plc, a leading digital media publisher reaching over 400 million users monthly.
Last year FlightStory grew by 200 per cent and now has offices in London, Manchester, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Blunt was approached after previously working with the company’s CEO Georgie Holt.
“We reached out, we fell in love with her operational excellence, experience, wisdom, temperament and tenacity,” explained Bartlett, “and we asked if she would join us on this mission.”
Blunt’s appointment is seen as a pivotal step in scaling FlightStory’s global operations.
She’s been consulting with FlightStory in recent months and as chief financial and operations officer will oversee finance, operations, legal, compliance, people and systems.
Bartlett added: “She’s had more impact in months than I could have expected in years.”
Holt commented: “I worked with Claire a decade ago – she always was and always will be a mentor and an inspiration to me.
“She is someone who leads with clarity, conviction and a rare mix of commercial sharpness and people-first leadership.
“To be building this company alongside her now isn’t just a full-circle moment – it’s magic.
“She’s the kind of leader you want beside you when you’re building something that truly matters, with the ambitions we have and taking it to a global scale.”