About Us
Our Team
Lee-J Walker
Joint Managing Director
Lee-J Walker is an experienced manager who has worked across the UK and the Middle East within the world of on-line advertising and recruitment. Prior to joining TheBusinessDesk.com, Lee-J was based in Dubai working for the $22bn turnover global recruitment company Manpower Inc as the regional group sales manager for the Gulf.
Catherine Godsland
COO
Catherine joined TheBusinessDesk.com in November 2020. With nearly two decades experience working on b2b events, Catherine brings a wealth of knowledge to the team having worked with clients including Twitter, Puma, Autotrader & ITV. Catherine enjoys spending time with her family in her spare time.
Alex Turner
Joint Managing Director
Alex Turner is the joint managing director of regional business news and events company, TheBusinessDesk.com.
He joined TheBusinessDesk.com in 2014, originally as Yorkshire editor then moved to Birmingham as group editor before being part of a management buyout in December 2017.
Editorial
Sam Metcalf
Editor - Midlands
Sam Metcalf joined TheBusinessDesk.com in January 2016 as editor of our East Midlands service.
Previously he was editor of East Midlands Business Link and before that editor at Midlands Business Insider.
Andrew Staples
Editor - Yorkshire
Andrew Staples joined TheBusinessDesk.com as Yorkshire Editor in September 2022. He's a Leeds lad, who started his journalism career as a cub reporter on the now-defunct Leeds Skyrack Express about 30 years ago. From 2005 to 2020 he lived with his family in Dubai. He was chief business reporter and head of copy desk for the English-language daily newspaper Gulf News before becoming an associate director with international consultancy APCO Worldwide, working in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Outside work you can find him rambling along Dales footpaths, trying to get the perfect picture of a curlew, or exploring ruined abbeys and castles.
Michael Taylor
Editor - North West
Michael Taylor is the Editor TheBusinessDesk.com in the North West. He is an experienced journalist and broadcaster having been editorial director of Insider Media after a decade covering the television business. Most recently he held a senior role at Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an academic thesis on regional devolution, later working for a member of Andy Burnham's cabinet in a communications and strategy role. He also plays music on the radio and has written a novel set in Cheshire against the backdrop of the financial crisis of 2008.
Anna Cooper
Assistant Editor - West Midlands
Anna joined The Business Desk in November 2021 following her English degree at Loughborough University and Broadcast Journalism masters at The University of Salford.
She is our West Midlands reporter based in Birmingham and has experienced a variety of broadcast and print news, working at The Observer and Global Radio.
Mike Ribbeck
Editor - South West
Mike has returned to TheBusinessDesk.com to launch our website in the South West. He has been a journalist and communications professional for more than three decades and has spent the largest part of his career covering business, property and the financial markets. Originally from the North West Mike has spent most of his career covering business and news in the South West. He also spent some time working in Manchester and Liverpool for TheBusinessDesk.com. He has worked as business editor on the Western Daily Press, the Bristol Post and more recently South West Insider. His experience and track-record means Mike has a deep knowledge and understanding of the business in the region and a large network of contacts. Mike has interviewed many of the region’s leading businessmen and women and written countless articles on companies from all sectors from tourism to advanced engineering.
Journalists
Miran Rahman
Journalist - Yorkshire
Miran Rahman joined
TheBusinessDesk.com as its reporter for the Yorkshire and Humber region in June 2019. He began his career in media as a broadcast journalist at BBC Radio Guernsey in September 2001, remaining there for nearly three years to read the early morning bulletins and produce news programmes.
Neil Hodgson
Journalist - North West
Neil Hodgson has 35 years’ experience as a journalist.
He has worked for the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo and the Manchester Evening News. Having started his career as a news reporter and sub-editor, he also worked in the sport and features departments, before becoming a business reporter 30 years ago.
Commercial
Jack Hickey
Head of Region - East Midlands
Jack joined TheBusinessDesk.com from brand agency Champions UK, where he was head of corporate development, and is a specialist in long-term strategic planning, business development and marketing strategies.
Upon graduating from University with a first class degree, Jack was selected as one of De Montfort University’s ‘Inspirational People 2015’.
Clare Graham
Commercial Manager North West & Yorkshire
Clare joined the Yorkshire division of TheBusinessDesk.com in May 2021, after a short break from the publishing industry. She had previously worked for Insider Media for 12 years, across both Manchester and Leeds, creating cross platform solutions for professional services clients as part of their regional and national marketing plans. Clare is working with the majority of the professional services to help them achieve their business growth objectives across Yorkshire.
Jason Taylor
Commercial Manager Yorkshire
Jason Taylor is a highly experienced business professional who has joined TheBusinessDesk.com as commercial manager in Yorkshire. With a career spanning over three decades, Jason has worked across private, public and charity sectors and is well connected and respected across the region.
With his extensive list of contacts and knowledge of media, business, partnerships, events and networking, Jason is well-equipped to help TheBusinessDesk.com continue to provide its market leading services to its readers and clients in Yorkshire and beyond. His expertise and experience make him an invaluable addition to the team, and we are delighted to have him on board.
James Clarke
Commercial Manager South West
James joined TheBusinessDesk.com on the 1st November 2022. Having started work in his home country of South Africa, he then worked and lived in the UK for 12 years before moving to the Middle East for 15 years. he is back in the UK heading up the commercial department for the newly launched South West Region. An experienced sales and territory manager, James believes that the key to success is building strong mutually beneficial relationships.
Events
Holly Hand
Digital Marketing Manager
Holly joined TheBusinessDesk.com in December 2021, as a Marketing and Design Coordinator. After graduating from The University of Hull with a degree in Digital Design, Holly wanted to pursue her interest in marketing so undertook a Digital Marketing apprenticeship. Holly loves to travel, and enjoys spending time with friends in her spare time.
Beth Cox
Events Coordinator
Beth joined TheBusinessDesk.com in September 2022 as Events Coordinator. After she finished studying Events Management at Leeds Beckett University she wanted to join the world of events. In her spare time Beth enjoys reading and spending time with her family.