team

Mike Kershaw

Managing Director

mike.kershaw@eventwise.co.uk

Mike Kershaw is the Chairman of leading integrated events company The Concerto Group and past President of the UK Chapter of ISES. A graduate of London University, Mike worked in Law before moving into corporate hospitality in 1983. In 1989 he set up The Ultimate Experience with Guy Rodger and ten years later was instrumental in the creation of The Concerto Group, a group made up of twelve event brands that range from party planning to structures, employs over 120 staff and has a turnover of nearly £35 million. A very experienced event planner, he has overseen the recent expansion of the company through several acquisitions and the development of numerous venues across London.

Guy Rodger

New Projects Director

guy.rodger@eventwise.co.uk

Guy Rodger is a Director of The Concerto Group. He was educated at Radley and Edinburgh University. Having dipped his toe into several industries he settled on the events arena and founded The Ultimate Experience in 1989 with Mike Kershaw. He has been at the vanguard of the events industry for 20 years having develped many venues and products that are now regarded as central to the events market which include: The Christmas Marquee at The HAC, The Summer Marquee at Royal Hospital Gardens Chelsea, Painshill Park, The Bridge, corporate screenings of World Cup Events and can even boast the fact that he imported the second and third laser disc Karaoke machine into the UK in 1989 - for which he is still apologising. Currently he focuses on developing new products and venues for Eventwise and The Concerto Group. He has been married to Clare since 1990, has three children and lives in Northamptonshire. He is a keen and enthusiastic, but not necessarily accomplished, cook, fisherman, gardener, shot and tennis player.

Joanne Bates

Sales Director

joanne.bates@eventwise.co.uk

After completing a degree in Marketing and many years in Hotel Management Joanne began working for the Concerto Group 14 years ago. In that time she has worked her way up from Sales and Marketing Assistant to Managing Director of Business Pursuits. Now Sales Director at eventwise, Joanne brings her years of Sales and events experience to the team. Joanne is an expert in developing teambuilding and outdoor events to her clients' briefs. Having sold events in most areas of the UK, she has a vast knowledge of hotels and venues. Joanne manages to juggle her challenging work life with an even more hectic home life. Having met her husband on a Concerto Group conference, they now have three girls ranging from 1 to 7 years old!

Peter Jackson

Client Services Director

peter.jackson@eventwise.co.uk

With over 20 years experience in large-scale ‘live' and international C&I events, Peter provides an enormous depth and breadth of knowledge as well as a lively creative talent. With long standing client relationships forged through delivering innovative, engaging and most importantly effective event solutions for many of the UK's top companies, Peter is the driving force of the Concerto Group's bespoke event process. On a personal level, Peter is a musician and keen sailor and dinghy racer since his early years.

Guy Hodgson

Head of Event Production

guy.hodgson@eventwise.co.uk

After graduating from Bournemouth University with a BSC in Leisure Marketing, Guy joined The Concerto Group and over then next 7 years quickly progressed to heading up the operations team. Guy has produced almost every type of event from small team building sessions to large outdoor events for 6000 people. His eye for detail and methodical approach has led to him designing and developing many of the team building products we offer.

Jenna Eastlake

Senior Event Producer

jenna.eastlake@eventwise.co.uk

Jenna has been with The Concerto Group since January 2003 and came to the company with a first class Honours degree in Event Management. Jenna's role has developed over the past four years and has seen her build close relationships with her key clients. Jenna is experienced in running events and managing accounts of varying sizes and complexity, from large global conferences to intimate incentives. Jenna has a passion for travel, having taken a sabbatical in 2006 when she was able to travel extensively throughout the Far East and Australia.

Louise Barcock

Account Director

louise.barcock@eventwise.co.uk

After graduating from Cardiff University with a BSC Hons in Business Management, Louise started gaining her vast events experience from managing public events and festivals for over 250,000 people. No task is too small for Louise who has over 6 years experience with The Concerto Group, her expertise lies in managing key accounts and creative event design, particularly when it involves turning the biggest green space into the most breathtaking event venue. Louise is also the master at solving logistically challenging events, and when she is not ensuring her teambuilding and outdoor events are running seamlessly she is delivering high profile parties and weddings across the country. With a brimming smile and confident and professional approach Louise ensures that each and every one of her clients ideas are turned into reality, and that have a day to remember forever.

Wendy Cutcliffe

Account Director

Wendy.Cutcliffe@eventwise.co.uk

Wendy Cutcliffe has worked within the events industry for more than 9 years, specialising in overseas incentive programmes. Her experience is vast and her knowledge of overseas destinations is second to none. Dealing with a variety of clients, Wendy has forged some fantastic relationships over the years and considers client liaison and relationship building among her strong attributes. Always a consummate professional, Wendy demonstrates a truly client-centric attitude with a great understanding of guests needs when on site and manages to work with suppliers to get the best outcomes and solutions for her programmes.

Gillian McDonald

Event Producer

gillian.mcdonald@eventwise.co.uk

Gillian completed her degree in Accounting and German before heading off round the world and gaining invaluable experience in the art of organisation. After returning to the UK Gillian spent the last 2 years working as an Event Manager at Business Pursuits, also part of The Concerto Group. She has a wide range of event experience having organised conferences, teambuilding, parties and family fun days worldwide. In her spare time Gillian enjoys attending concerts, cooking and silversmithing.

Alice Lock

Event Producer

alice.lock@eventwise.co.uk

After a varied career in Shopping Centre Events and flying as cabin crew, Alice joined eventwise as an account executive. She is very methodical in her approach and never misses a trick! She has organised and managed a number of key bespoke events and deals with a wide range of clients. In her spare time Alice enjoys reading, cooking and travelling.

Clare Norrish

Event Producer

clare.norrish@eventwise.co.uk

Clare joined the Concerto Group after graduating from Bournemouth University with a bsc in Leisure Marketing. An infectious enthusiasm and a experience in a wide variety of different events has led to her working on many of our more complex events. She approaches all her events with a can do attitude and a smile on her face whilst ensuring the greatest attention to detail.

Sophie Batten

Head of Christmas

sophie.batten@eventwise.co.uk

Sophie joined eventwise in November 2006, just ahead of the hectic party season. She immediately got involved with the creative planning and running of all our Christmas venues and has played a key part in developing the division year on year. She enjoys a new challenge and thrives on seeing each event successfully completed. Sophie has qualifications in fitness and nutrition and loves fancy dress parties.

Jo Heasman

Account Manager

jo.heasman@eventwise.co.uk

Jo joined eventwise in July 2006 bringing with her over 5 years of event management experience, 3 of which were at The Ultimate Experience, also part of The Concerto Group. Jo has an incredibly wide range of event experience having delivered imaginative parties, conferences, product launches, celebrations and even bar mitzva's all across London and the UK, as well as having managed one of London's pre-eminent event venues. Jo's attention to detail is infallible, her humour insatiable and her energy, drive and commitment are enviable. In her spare time Jo enjoys the theatre, music and camping and is often found rolling around under canvas in the hills of Sussex.

Kate Geraghty

Account Manager

kate.geraghty@eventwise.co.uk

Kate moved to the U.K from Sydney in 2001, after completing a contract working as an Events Supervisor on the 2000 Sydney Olympics & Paralympics. This unique opportunity enabled her to get a taste for the world of event management. She then decided to leave the sunshine of Australia and move to the U.K to continue her career in the events industry. During her three years with us she has managed projects of varying sizes and complexity both here in the U.K and abroad. Kate brings enthusiasm and professionalism to all her projects. With her seemingly never ending energy Kate enjoys netball, squash and all activities that bring out her competitive nature.

Katy Baird

Account Manager

katy.baird@eventwise.co.uk

Katy has a degree in music industry management and live production giving her a solid foundation for complex event planning. Katy joined eventwise two years ago to look after our shared party packages, her fantastic ability to talk made her a perfect candidate for this proactive sales role. She is now a key member bringing innovative ideas and lots of enthusiasm to the team. Katy has a passion for music and her skills developed through eventwise have allowed her to produce her own private annual event, ‘Bairdstock'.

Sean Doyle

Account Manager

sean.doyle@eventwise.co.uk

Sean has worked in the events industry for 6 years, originally in the sporting hospitality sector and then on to the creative side of party production. Sean is an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to UK venues. He also looks after our website and keeps us up to date with the latest news, entertainment and venues on the event front. He likes to keep fit by riding his bike to work and going to the gym.

Kim Backler

Account Executive

Kim.backler@eventwise.co.uk

After living and working in Spain for 4 years Kim joined the Concerto group in March 2008 with a keen interest in selling outdoor events and teambuilding. Since joining the company she has worked closely with clients, developing event briefs from fun team activity days to indoor conferences. Kim has created a close relationship's with 5 star hotels such as The Grove, The Four seasons Hampshire and the highly successful Exclusive Hotels Group. After work if not in her local gym you may see Kim riding around on her motorbike having recently passed her test.

Anandy Sureswaren

Finance Manager

anandy.sureswaran@eventwise.co.uk

Anandy is the longest standing member of eventwise and has led the finance division with efficiency and professionalism. Her problem solving skills and hard working nature make her easy to work with and an invaluable asset to the team. Anandy enjoys dancing, cooking and spending time with her family.

Emily Brittain

Office Manager

emily.brittain@eventwise.co.uk

After graduating from Nottingham University in 2006, Emily pursued her dream of doing a ski season in Italy. She joined eventwise in 2007 and her work hard, play hard attitude meant she fitted in immediately. Her love for everything outdoors helped her decide she wanted to work in sporting hospitality and she has a real flair for organising dinners and team building events.