mdhub board

Nikki Gatenby

Nikki Gatenby

Nikki is an engaging, energised, strategic leader, having spent the last 25 years experimenting with entrepreneurial ways of working across international teams in London, Paris and now Brighton. She has worked with brands from Marks and Spencer to British Airways, Waitrose, TUI and Unilever.

Early on in her career, Nikki took marketing agency TMW international, by winning the Nissan Europe digital and data business across 26 markets. In doing so, she moved to France and set up a dedicated arm of the UK agency to service all markets from the Nordics to Russia.

In the last decade, Nikki transformed Brighton SEO agency Propellernet into a global marketing organisation and SAAS provider, serving the PR, content and search world – hand in hand with being one of the top 15 Best Places to work in the UK for 8 years running. The story is captured in Nikki’s best seller, Superengaged.

Nikki is now a non-exec director, charity trustee and advisory board member to a range of businesses from start-ups to established brands. As a trained coach and experienced mentor, she has a particular skill in helping people to be the best version of themselves and is adept at working with leadership teams, c-suite, company-wide or one to one. With Skilful Leader certification from the Chartered Institute of Management, she is an experienced operator and hands-on practitioner, who enables others to turn their business dreams into reality.

Rob Day

As a member of the mdhub advisory board, as well as a participant in the regular peer-to-peer groups, I have a deep understanding of the benefits and value that mdhub can offer. I doubt I’d have had the courage to make such a big step out of my comfort zone and into such unchartered territory without the ongoing support of Phil, Fiona and my mdhub Peer to Peer group. It’s rare to find a group of people with such integrity and compassion – but these guys are the real deal –not only do they have the skills, people and experience to help you succeed, but they do it with the utmost professionalism, care and consideration

Helen Bailey

A serial entrepreneur, Helen Bailey has over 27 years’ experience of working in retail, drinks, hospitality and leisure and was the owner and operator of five restaurants with a turnover in excess of £5 million.

John Thacker

John acts for a wide range of businesses and organisations, in particular for charities, owner-managed businesses and professional practices. John qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 and later obtained his Diploma in Charity Accounting. He was a partner in Clark Brownscombe for over 20 years and has also worked for KPMG.

John has produced a number of articles on charity matters. He also regularly presents at charity seminars. He is an active member of mdhub and reads widely on business and personal development matters.

Terry Nitman

Terry has joined the board at MacConvilles, a multi-disciplinary construction consultancy based in Hove which has been established since 1938. Prior to joining MacConvilles in 2022, he was Joint MD of Cheesmur Building Contractors.

Terry has been a long-standing member of the Hub and has had the privilege of serving on the advisory board for a number of years. He also participates in several peer-to-peer workgroups.

With a long career that started as an indentured apprentice in the construction industry in 1980, providing workplace experience, learning opportunities and the development of colleagues is integral to his business ethos.

The shared knowledge and experiences of like-minded business leaders assists greatly in maintaining and developing the continuing success of MacConvilles.