Dez Derry expands investment portfolio with stake in luxury travel experience brand
North West entrepreneur, Dez Derry, is expanding his investment portfolio by taking a stake in London-based luxury travel experience provider, Le Blanq.
Derry set up specialist digital agency, mmadigital in 2012, specialising in finding customer acquisition leads for the legal sector. It rebranded as Blume and was acquired by Sun Capital in 2022. Derry stepped back from Blume in February 2024.
He has joined the advisory board of the gastro-cycling event firm that organises trips that combine a love of cycling with fine dining in some of the most beautiful destinations across the world.
LeBlanq, which creates exclusive events for celebrity and entrepreneur clients under the tag line ‘ride with legends, dine with greats’, was founded in 2021 by former pro cyclist and global sports marketing agency exec, Justin Clarke, chef, Ashley Palmer-Watts of Fat Duck fame and former Tour de France stage winner and Team Sky Directeur Sportif, Sean Yates.
The business combines high end cycling getaways with Michelin-star gastronomy and access to cycling stars, including Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy.
Dez Derry said: “I really believe the time is now for LeBlanq. It’s perfectly placed to capitalise on the massive rise in the popularity of cycling – it’s the new golf – and the more established sectors of fine dining and travel. Add in the access to inspirational speakers and it’s a powerful combination with huge potential for international growth.”
He added: “I rate Justin and his team who are creating genuinely world class experiences that are punchy on price.”
Derry’s investment will support the firm’s growth plans to become a global player in the experiential travel market as it prepares for the second year of its successful Joyride Festival which launched in 2024, adding a wellness programme and live music, headlined by DJ, Pete Tong, to its Ibiza weekend event.
Justin Clarke said: “Le Blanq is operating in an incredibly exciting and high growth space right now, bringing together passions of health and wellness, food and travel that are relevant across the globe.
“Over four years we have honed our experiences to create events that are truly unique and we’ve found the sweetspot for our clients who want to indulge in culture and wellness and continue to expand their networks and push themselves.”
He added: “Dez believes in what we are doing because he has experienced our trips and seen the care and attention that goes into making every trip incredible.”
Derry is an investor in a number of businesses including Fletchers Group, which incorporates Blume, social-first travel company, TravelSeen, social media platform for combat sports, Fight Division, as well as LeBlanq.
Others advisory board members of LeBlanq include Simon Mottram, founder and former CEO of Rapha, Simon Kimble, the exec chairman and founder of Clarion Events, and Tim Ashton, the founder and creative director of Antidote, one of the UK’s leading creative agencies.
