Most Influential CEO Awards 2025 Featuring: Parcels Mart: Seasoned Logistics CEO Taking a Global Logistics Solutions Provider to New HeightsProvider Heightsto Equipzilla: Leading Industrial Machinery Rental and Management in Spain
Welcome to the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. “Never mistake the power of influence” Jim Rohn. CEO Monthly Magazine has been celebrating CEOs since we published our inaugural issue back in 2017. It’s no secret that what we perceive as a good leader today, is very different to what it would have been twenty years ago. Modern leadership has been borne out of the complexities of modern workplaces and the increasingly diverse team members working within them. It takes a lot of things to become a truly great leader, but one thing is for sure; to be effective in leading an organisation big or small, influence is a fundamental element. CEO Monthly Magazine’s Most Influential CEOs are handpicked by us every month, based on our own comprehensive analysis and research. It’s not just a vanity list of the typical household names but it’s a real-world representation of those who influence and lead within their organisations every single day. Jo Holloway, Senior Account Executive Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
6. Parthian Partners: Oluseye Olusoga- Fintech Innovator, Financial Inclusion Advocate 7. Nscale: European AI Hyperscaler CEO Pushing Boundaries 8. UK Black Pride: Altruistic Advocation- How Activist Lady Phyll Empowers Her Community 9. Artvera Private Wealth Management: Artur Bounegra- Leading with Integrity and Ingenuity 10. Reward: Redefifining Customer Loyalty in a Digital Age 12. BlueCallom: Axel Schultze- Attaining the Unattainable with Agentic AI 13. KarHub: Spare Car Parts from Trusted Suppliers – All Done Online 14. AXREM: True MedTech Transformation 15. OPAL: Rajeev Arya- Leading with Empathy and Empowerment 16. Capitawise Ltd: Akanksha Rais- Powering Change. Earning Recognition. Leading with Purpose 17. Lehua Brands: Professionalism in the ‘Wild West’ Cannabis/CBD Industry 18. Calida Financial Ltd: Jens Bader- Driving Innovation and Growth in Fintech 19. Global Guardians Management: Protecting Vacant Properties, Fortifying Local Areas 20. Vizion Autos: A CEO Dedicated to Shared Success 21. Audet Magna: Dare to be Great with Audet Magna 22. Parcels Mart: Seasoned Logistics CEO Taking a Global Logistics Solutions Provider to New HeightsProvider Heightsto 24. Alchemy Crew Venturing: Repeatable Venture Clienting Success 26. Property Tree: Changing Real Estate Markers and Growing Communities in Hartbeespoort 27. SYNC IT: A Musician-Led Music- Licensing Platform for Brands and Agencies 28. Stellenium Corporation: Nancy Coblenz- Building Systemswith Strategy and Sovereignty 29. UAV Latam: Empowering Businesses with Advanced Drone Solutions 30. Kallikor Ltd: AI Excellence Fuelling Supply Chain Innovation 31. Datasur: Anvit Ramlakhan- Powering Regional Growth through Digital Empowerment 32. IVRS Wellness Center: Pioneering Integrative Health and Wellness Services 33. Sparx Systems Software GmbH, Europe: The Man Setting the Standard for Model- Based Systems Engineering in Europe 34. Prospero PR: The Man Behind Germany’s Leading PR Agency 36. Speedy Comics Group: Taking Fans on the Ultimate Pop-Culture Journey Contents
Subscribe to our monthly digital publication for free today!
Contents 38. 1st Aid Fire Limited: Specialist Fire Risk Assessments and Training 39. TruthSayer AI: Nizar Assanie- The Founder Leading the World’s First “AI Hedge Fund in a Box” 40. Belfast Exposed: Photography for Everyone 41. Equipzilla: Leading Industrial Machinery Rental and Management in Spain 42. VFX Apprentice: Supporting the Next Generation of VFX Specialists 43. BioSapien: Khatija Ali- The Brain Behind The Lifechanging MediChip 44. Alpha Prospects: TeslaTech 45. JET SET: Redefining the House of Stars 46. Xizmo Media: Edward Kostakis- The CEO Soaring to Great HeightsEstablished 47. TCW: Revolutionising Data Handling for Housing Providers 48. Sota Solutions Limited: AI Forward - Reimagining Managed Services for a New Era 49. Volterra: Social Media Marketing: Smart Scaling 50. Negocios TV: José Vizner- Building Spain’s Economic Media Powerhouse 51. Sports Illustrated Tickets: David Lane Named 2025 Most Influential CEO in the Live Event Marketplace
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 6 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 12 When it comes to services relating to fixed income, structured finance, equity markets, and M&A advisory, there is no source more trusted or knowledgeable than Parthian Partners. Combining its shared expertise with deep technical insights, the firm delivers a string of pioneering solutions for individual clients, corporations, and government departments Operating out of the beating heart of Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos, it is the overarching vision of Parthian Partners to carve out a legacy for itself as one of the most important financial institutions across the whole of Africa. Working vigilantly towards this vision, the firm offers its clients a comprehensive, fully integrated service ecosystem that allows them to more than meet their economic goals. At the helm of this impressive operation is Oluseye Olusoga, who, after being named as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Capital Markets (Nigeria), spoke with us about his career and the firm. alike. Through these encompassing services, Parthian Partners is paving the way for both financial integration and sustainable growth right across African industry. A firm built on the cornerstones of diligence, integrity, excellence, and teamwork – and all underpinned by a steadfast commitment to delivering nothing short of impeccable service – it is the resilience stemming from these values that clients appreciate most about working with Parthian Partners. The environment that the firm operates in is undeniably tough, and only by utilising this inherent resilience to anticipate, adapt, and remain on the right track can it hope to continue to add the maximum value for its clients and wider society. “We prioritise longterm value creation and take a proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring that we stay ahead of industry trends and deliver exceptional service.” Vital in ensuring that the team behind this operation continue to work to the highest possible standards, CEO Oluseye Olusoga does more than simply oversee the firm’s direction, he also delivers strategic leadership and takes a very hands-on role when it comes to managing the many different facets of Parthian Partners. Understanding needs and traversing challenges, Oluseye is especially talented when it comes to balancing risks and opportunities, formulating effective strategies to empower his team at every turn. Guided by the simple philosophy of doing whatever it takes to make the customer happy, the journey that Oluseye has been on throughout his professional career has proven invaluable in shaping this approach. A graduate of the UK’s Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick, Oluseye begin his career as an investment banker, before moving to Citi as a trader and finally to Parthian Partners in 2012. This experience, combined with his stellar academic credentials, makes Oluseye a tenacious and driven executive. When it comes to his employees, Oluseye recognises the differences between leading a small team and a larger organisation. With Parthian Partners having undergone significant growth in the 13 years since Oluseye first ascended to the top of the company’s operational ladder, this is a CEO well versed in both of these areas. Be it effectively delegating responsibility amongst middle management or promoting a culture of accountability, Oluseye demonstrably has what it takes to keep his employees satisfied. “I believe in a collaborative leadership style – one that encourages open dialogue, fosters a culture of continuous learning, and prioritises both individual and collective growth”, says Oluseye when asked about his approach to managing the firm. “Over the years, I have become more focused on developing future leaders within the organisation, ensuring that the company remains strong and adaptable regardless of external pressures.” Our rapidly changing world is seeing these pressures mount significantly, especially when it comes to global politics and technological advancements. These changes are already starting to make themselves felt in this space, meaning that Oluseye and his team have to be prepared for anything. It is for this reason that this fintech innovator and economic thought leader has devised a future-proof strategy focusing on continuous learning, building strong alliances in the industry, and staying one step ahead of the curve. Finally, when it comes to his own career, Oluseye signs off by telling us: “For me, success is not just personal – it’s about enabling others to succeed as well. My goal is to empower the people I work with, helping them to achieve their full potential. My greatest success lies in witnessing the growth and flourishing of those I’ve mentored and invested in.” A selfless, talented, forwardlooking financial services CEO, it is our pleasure to celebrate Oluseye Olusoga by naming him the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Capital Markets (Nigeria). Contact: Oluseye Olusoga Company: Parthian Partners Web Address: parthianpartnersng.com Oluseye Olusoga: Fintech Innovator, Financial Inclusion Advocate
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 7 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 12 scale is perhaps Josh’s most ambitious venture yet, tapping into the considerable demand for AI infrastructure that the rapid adoption of the technology into all industries has brought about. The company has experienced significant growth on the back of its pipeline of European greenfield data centres, with the business also boasting a wealth of data centre development projects throughout the US, UK, and Norway. Simply put, Nscale is quickly establishing itself as Europe’s AI hyperscaler, with the system excelling in high-performance solutions for LLM and MML workloads. Josh and the team work with several of the industry’s premier hardware providers, including NVIDIA and AMD, to offer cutting-edge AI infrastructure from its portfolio of global data centres mentioned above. With these abilities, Nscale can work towards its mission of leading the way when it comes to sustainable, highquality computing. At the heart of Nscale’s difference is an integrated full-stack approach, which sees this cloud provider owning the entirety of its infrastructure, from the data centres to the hardware and software. Commenting on this, Josh explains: “By owning every segment of the AI Cloud value chain, Nscale can provide its end users with unmatched performance optimisations and cost efficiency. This holistic strategy ensures seamless operations and a clear edge in delivering superior, scalable and sustainable digital solutions to businesses looking to adopt AI globally.” Equally as important in the success of this venture is Josh himself, whose CEO duties see him cover multiple facets of day-today operations and wider strategy. Across it all, sustainability remains front and centre. Nscale greatly emphasises environmental responsibility, leveraging renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies in its solutions and operations. Josh and his team hope to demonstrate that AI can be handled responsibly without depleting the earth’s natural resources. Another considerable area of focus for Josh is securing funding and structuring deals, including nurturing partnerships with fellow brands and striking alliances in the wider field of AI GPU cloud services. Taking such a hands-on role with his company, Josh’s approach to leadership results in clear goals being set and then European AI Hyperscaler CEO Pushing Boundaries Josh Payne has been an entrepreneur since he was just 22 years old and has spent the last decade launching a trio of businesses, securing more than $685m in funding in the process. Nscale, the latest of these highly successful ventures, was launched in May last year and has already proven itself a leading entity in the field of enterprisegrade GPU cloud infrastructure. Named the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Sustainable Computing (UK), we had the opportunity to speak with Josh to find out more. rigorously adhered to. He tells us, “I believe people perform best when they understand how their contributions impact the bigger picture. So, whether through team meetings, one-on-ones, or company-wide updates, we prioritise open communication to make sure everyone stays aligned with our mission.” What follows is a strong team and a culture revolving around trust and openness. Early on, Josh recognised that his urge to be involved in every aspect of the business was neither needed nor sustainable, and this is why he hires talented people whom he can delegate tasks to without a second thought. On the back of this, Josh has amassed a 100-strong team of hybrid workers, with these staff spanning multiple countries worldwide. Leveraging this international workforce, Nscale is on track for significant growth, offering businesses in Europe a sovereign alternative to US hyperscalers. Having already achieved $155m in Series A funding, Nscale is well positioned to succeed in its mission to become the leading global provider of sustainable highperformance computing. With big plans on the horizon, Josh is determined that organisations of all sizes should be able to unlock the full potential of AI while minimising environmental impact. For the rest of 2025, Nscale is working on its European and North American growth strategy, as well as building out its 1.3GW pipeline. Having also recently announced its plans to invest $2.5bn in the UK’s data centre industry over the next three years, it is clear Nscale is destined for more greatness. We wish Josh Payne all the best with the initiatives he is spearheading, recognising him as a best-in-class CEO as a result of his efforts to date. N Contact: Sarah Neill (EA to Josh Payne) Company: Nscale Web Address: https://www.nscale.com/
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 8 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 11 Altruistic Advocation: How Activist Lady Phyll Empowers Her Community Established in 2005, UK Black Pride began as a small gathering organised by Lady Phyll and other Black Lesbian activists. An arranged trip to Southend-on-Sea in 2004 for Black Lesbians quickly evolved into what is now known worldwide as UK Black Pride. After a successful inaugural event in Southend-on-Sea, UK Black Pride was officially launched the following year in 2006 and has since grown to become Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean heritage. Motivated by the underrepresentation of Black LGBTQ+ individuals in mainstream Pride events, UK Black Pride strives to create a dedicated space for these communities to celebrate their identities and foster solidarity. The organisation takes an inclusive and intersectional approach, addressing not only LGBTQ+ issues but also the unique challenges faced by people of colour within these communities. Thanks to Lady Phyll’s leadership and advocacy, instrumental in promoting social justice and fighting discrimination, UK Black Pride stands today as a movement advocating for the rights and dignity of Black LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide. Lady Phyll is a political activist renowned for her inspirational work advocating for racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality. Attending school in Lea Valley, Lady Phyll first became politically active at the age of 11, upon the realisation that her experiences in this world were to be different than those of her Caucasian schoolfriends. Throughout school, Lady Phyll was inquisitive about her education, often kicked out of classrooms for raising valid concerns about her curriculum’s direction – why the students were only taught about the Battle of Hastings or Henry VIII’s wives, and not about slavery and the history of Africa and Asia. Having led a career deeply rooted in political and social justice, Lady Phyll entered the workforce as a Civil Servant for the Department of Works and Pensions and also Fraud Investigation Service. In 2008, she took on the position of Head of Political Campaigns and Equality for the Public and Commercial Service Union, the largest Civil Service Trade Union. Alongside leading UK Black Pride, Lady Phyll also served as Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust from 2019 to 2024, working to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people on an international scale. Today, Lady Phyll is well-known throughout the UK for her activism on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ rights and is considered to be one of the country’s most prominent lesbian activists. She leads UK Black Pride with a commitment to equality and justice, working collectively to make the public understand the varied issues facing underrepresented communities. For over two decades, Lady Phyll has been relentless in her mission to create a close-knit family through UK Black Pride, ensuring that everybody in her community feels pride of place, and nobody feels left out or isolated on their journey to equality. Through the extensive efforts of Lady Phyll and the team behind UK Black Pride, there now exists a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean heritage. Too often, members of these communities are fighting their battles alone and are being challenged in ways that are impacting their mental health and wellbeing. The remarkable work conducted by Lady Phyll and her peers has shown these individuals that they do belong, opening up space for dialogue and progression to take place, with the aim of working towards a safer and more inclusive future. Moving forward, UK Black Pride is focused on advancing growth and development, while championing the rights of the Black LGBTQ+ community. Under the expert leadership of Lady Feb25177 UK Black Pride is the world’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Midden Eastern descent. The organisation is responsible for a spectacular annual celebration during pride month, alongside a number of activities around the UK throughout the year, designed to promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health and wellbeing of its represented communities. Today, we celebrate Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (Lady Phyll) – political activist, Co-Founder, and Chief Executive of UK Black Pride, as she features in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. Phyll, the organisation remains dedicated to hosting its inclusive annual festival, fostering social connections, supporting community outreach initiatives, advocating for awareness and representation, and celebrating community achievements throughout 2025. With Lady Phyll at its helm, recognised as the Most Influential CEO for LGBTQI Advocacy in the UK, we at CEO Monthly magazine have no doubts that UK Black Pride will continue to reshape the UK’s LGBTQ+ landscape for the better, positively impacting lives and creating inclusive spaces for all. Contact: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah Company: UK Black Pride Web Address: www.ukblackpride.org.uk
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 9 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 13 Artur Bounegra: Leading with Integrity and Ingenuity The investment landscape is an intricate and complex space, which can be daunting when managing substantial wealth. There are a variety of investment opportunities available beyond traditional stocks and bonds, best approached with expert guidance from a seasoned professional. Artvera Private Wealth Management is a leading private wealth management boutique, renowned for providing a diverse range of investment customised to meet each client’s unique needs. We find out more below, as Artur Bounegra, the firm’s dynamic CEO, is named in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. Since 2012, Artvera Private Wealth Management has been dedicated to expertly managing its clients’ wealth, offering a comprehensive range of investment opportunities guaranteed to drive significant results. Based in London, the firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the UK, providing customised investment management worldwide, comprehensive wealth planning solutions and corporate advisory services to high net worth individuals, their families, and their businesses. From its office in Mayfair, Artvera Private Wealth Management focuses on serving clients from emerging markets, managing their wealth through a wide range of traditional and alternative investment strategies across all major asset classes. What’s more, the firm’s management services extend beyond managing clients’ assets and encompass all financial aspects of their lives. Artvera Private Wealth Management provides comprehensive planning solutions, including financial planning, wealth structuring, tax planning and legal issues, estate planning, fiduciary and trust services, and business succession planning. At its core, the firm is dedicated to helping its clients in better structuring and protecting their wealth, effectively preparing them to pass their wealth to future generations with all tax and legal requirements and constraints considered. Its outstanding investment management and wealth planning solutions are complemented by corporate advisory services designed to optimise clients’ businesses, comprising advice on strategic issues and business planning, mergers and acquisitions, purchasing and selling businesses, restructurings and reorganisations, capital markets, and capital structure issues. Alongside this, Artvera Private Wealth Management also provides life advisory services that cover a wide range of family issues such as international relocation to the UK, UK residency and citizenship, education, healthcare, and concierge services in the UK, offering an encompassing service model that entirely meets the needs of its clients and their families. At the helm of Artvera Private Wealth Management is Artur Bounegra, its Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer. Artur has a wealth of solid working experience in the financial services sector, particularly within banking and investment management. Prior to establishing Artvera Private Wealth Management in November of 2012, Artur held top management positions including Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chairman of the Board, and Vice-President in several leading Russian banks, including those belonging to large international banking groups such as Raiffeisen Bank and Nordea Bank, as long as working in various boutique hedge funds and investment advisory firms across the USA. After graduating with a Diploma in Accounting and Audit from the State University of Management in Russia, Artur went on to receive his PhD in Economics from the same university, and then his MBA degree from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business in the USA. Desiring to deepen his knowledge in specific areas, Artur invested time into completing multiple professional qualifications, earning a Qualification Certificate in Brokerage and Dealer Activity from The Federal Financial Markets Service in Russia, and a number of UK certificates including Corporate Governance, Conduct Regime, Market Abuse, Data Protection, Anti Money Laundering, and Anti-Bribery and Corruption. Now, Artur is responsible for the strategic management of Artvera Private Wealth Management, though he dedicates a significant portion of his time to providing clients with comprehensive wealth management services that take a boutique-style approach. He has succeeded in leading Artvera Private Wealth Management to great heights since its inception, doing so by leveraging his deep and fundamental knowledge of macro and microeconomics, financial management, accounting, reporting, and auditing, alongside his comprehensive experience and expertise in managing investments in developed and emerging markets. At its core, Artvera Private Wealth Management is a company deeply committed to providing the very best services to empower its clientele in effectively managing their wealth. Expertly steered by Artur, the firm has gone from strength to strength since its inception and shows no signs of slowing its momentum. For his dedication to his clientele and significant contributions towards reshaping the investment landscape, Artur Bounegra has been rightfully recognised as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Wealth Management UK. Contact: Artur Bounegra Company: Artvera Private Wealth Management Web Address: www.artverawealth.com Jan25391
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 10 F Redefining Customer Loyalty in a Digital Age
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 11 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 7 Feb25195 Weaving a strong, symbiotic relationship between companies and their customers is no small feat but, with Reward, it doesn’t have to be difficult. To this day, Reward has given back $2 billion in cashback rewards through the programmes it delivers to banking and retail partners, forging a better – more rewarding – world for us all. We learn more from Jamie Samaha as he wins Most Influential CEO 2025 – Loyalty & Rewards (UK). Based in London, with offices in Belfast, Dubai, and Singapore, Reward is an innovative and purpose-driven company with the aim of making everyday spending more rewarding – supporting consumer budgets while enabling banks and retailers to connect with their customers on a deeper level. Reward ensures that data, technology, and digital advertising are used as combined forces to power customer engagement solutions that drive real impact for businesses, turning one-off visits into a fruitful, long-lasting relationship. Jamie Samaha shared: “What sets us apart is our position at the intersection of Banking Loyalty and Commerce Media. We provide best-in-class consumer behaviour insights, helping brands make smarter, data-driven decisions, elevate omnichannel experiences, and ultimately, drive stronger engagement and lasting loyalty.” Appointed as CEO in 2023, Jamie has brought over two and a half decades of experience to the firm – and his expertise is not only consistent with Reward’s mission, but echoes the very essence of what Reward stands for. Jamie’s entrepreneurial drive has always been fuelled by the challenge of expansion, engaging with customers, and building businesses that create real impact. He led Pinpoint’s expansion across Asia Pacific, culminating in its successful sale to Mastercard in 2015. Stepping into a global leadership role, he gained invaluable experience operating at scale, learning how to navigate complexity and drive strategic growth. He reflected: “Spending seven years at Mastercard was a defining phase of my career. Operating at a truly international scale, I learned how to navigate complex environments, influence across multiple stakeholders, and think about scale and impact in a way that goes beyond just operational execution. Those years made me a better leader and CEO and now, as I return to medium-sized, founderled businesses, I bring a more rounded, strategic perspective – helping founders and leadership teams take their vision and scale it into something much bigger. “Leadership is a constant evolution. I’ve led multiple businesses through different stages of growth, and in each role, I aim to bring my best self – but I’m also always learning and adapting. One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken with me is that great leadership isn’t just about the business; it’s about people.” Since Reward’s establishment, Founder Gavin Dein led the company with a mission to not only transform customer engagement but to truly give back and make a positive impact on its surrounding communities. Reward continues to scale and make even more deeply rooted connected with consumers, customers, and partners as its team dedicates themselves to the company’s mission. Jamie is well-aware of the digital transformation that every industry is experiencing in current times, and he leads Reward with a keen eye for detail, years of experience, and an appetite for not only continual growth, but also creating an environment where people feel empowered to succeed. He enthused: “I’m very hands-on in fostering our culture. I’m a big believer in empowering people and creating an environment where talent can thrive. A big part of that is championing workplace equality – achievements such as reaching gender pay-gap parity, and We live to power the world’s best loyalty programmes. “ “ initiatives like Reward Women in Tech are just some examples of how we support mentorship, career development, and leadership opportunities.” Atop Reward’s plans for international expansion, the company is set to further enrich its services. Jamie elaborated: “We are deepening our capabilities in data and AI, ensuring our partners can harness enhanced intelligence to drive more effective customer engagement strategies. We’re also exploring further acquisitions, having recently acquired Hospitality Data Insights (HDI) to strengthen our data insights and analytics capabilities. “Additionally, we are strengthening our partnership with Experian, which invested in Reward last year. Together, we are bringing to market enhanced intelligence and audience activation solutions, helping businesses better leverage their first-party data to drive more targeted, measurable engagement strategies.” Jamie’s future with Reward looks bright indeed and technological and personal advancements unfold. It’s a pleasure to take a moment to celebrate Jamie’s success in our Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. Contact: Alice Ford Company: Reward Website: https://rewardinsight.com/
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 12 CEO MONTHLY / APRIL 2025 6 Artificial Intelligence is a complex but crucial tool that can be used to optimise the operations of any businesses when wielded correctly, though the technology is also vastly misunderstood by the market. BlueCallom is a leading company that exists in this space to demonstrate the many beneficial qualities to artificial intelligence. The company is currently reshaping the global business landscape by developing top-tier agentic artificial intelligence business solutions, driven by pioneering inventor and engineer Douglas Engelbart’s vision of “Human Intelligence Augmentation”. Axel Schultze founded BlueCallom in 2020, though his inspirational journey to CEO did not follow the most traditional path. “I was a terrible student at school,” he recalls. “It just didn’t catch my interest. When in the army, I realised that my ‘career’ was ‘no career’. I heard the saying from Confucius, ‘Do what you wholeheartedly love, and you will never work a day in your life’. So, I started to do what I love, and that was programming computers.” After becoming the top programmer of his organisation within a year, Axel moved onto product management, before gaining experience in marketing and sales. When he came to establish BlueCallom in 2020, Axel had adjusted Confucius’s phrase, altering it to: “Do what you wholeheartedly love, and look for people who love what you do”. “That little twist helped me to understand early on that it’s not just about me,” he adds. “More importantly, it’s about making others happy.” As the CEO of BlueCallom, Axel leads with the qualities of empowerment and inspiration, continually striving to build a team of individuals who share his passion in alignment with Confucius’s teachings. Believing that speed is more important than perfection and value is added in the execution, Axel guides his team with a strategic approach that has been honed through years of direct experience in the field. Boasting a team of passionate professionals who love what they do, Axel has well positioned BlueCallom to continue leading the industry in agentic AI business solutions. In fact, Axel cites the team as being an instrumental part of BlueCallom immense successes. Each member has been meticulously chosen for their contributions towards the company-wide vision. “I like to hire people who are far better in a specific Axel Schultze: Attaining the Unattainable with Agentic AI The business landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, driven by continuous advancements in AI technology. Based in Zurich, BlueCallom is a company positioned at the forefront of such advancement, developing agentic AI business solutions to empower organisations to achieve onceunattainable business objectives. Rather than shying away, BlueCallom is embracing the evolution and revolutionising the landscape for enterprises throughout Switzerland. Join us below as we speak with Axel Schultze, the Founder and CEO behind BlueCallom, following his recent recognition in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. area than I am,” Axel tells us. “My biggest personal success is helping people achieve goals they thought were unattainable. I work with everyone on eye level and invest into them like they invest into BlueCallom. I’m very proud of my team; they’re a remarkable gang. It’s easy to build a powerful company with exceptional people.” The support of such a forward-thinking team is crucial when navigating the everchanging business landscape. BlueCallom plans to continue leading the technological revolution, empowering businesses across a number of industries in taking control of their development and streamlining operations through innovative agentic solutions. Axel predicts that the implementation of artificial intelligence will help society to become more independent and autonomous, once fully embraced around the world. With this in mind, we at CEO Monthly magazine wonder what the future holds for the visionary Axel, named Most Influential CEO 2025 for AI-Driven Business Solutions. Currently, Axel tells us: “I am working on creating a thought leader circle of great minds to discuss how artificial intelligence will change our entire existence, and what we can do to help our children, grandchildren, and employees of all age levels prepare for what is coming. But this is not a doomsday scenario – quite the opposite – but it can feel too good to believe, which can also be a challenge.” Moving forward, Axel will continue to lead BlueCallom to excellence as he utilises the company’s vast innovative capabilities to champion the advancement of artificial intelligence throughout Switzerland. Guided by common sense and intuition, Axel has a clear vision of the future in sight and will build upon his inimitable ability to rapidly adapt to excel in this dynamic space. We at CEO Monthly magazine wish Axel the best of luck with his future endeavours and eagerly anticipate the ways in which BlueCallom will reshape the future of work and learn with his unparalleled AI business solutions. A Contact: Axel Schultze Company: BlueCallom Web Address: www.bluecallom.com
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 13 CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2026 16 ne of Brazil’s fastest-growing technology companies, KarHub was founded to bring transparency, efficiency, and trust to a sector long known for its complexity and fragmentation. Led by founder and CEO Leonardo Canepa, the company’s mission is to simplify the buying and selling of auto parts by offering customers the widest possible choice, high availability, fast delivery, and competitive pricing - all through a single digital platform. KarHub’s growth is driven by a highly engaged team, united by the values of transparency, ownership, and meritocracy. Leonardo sees his role as CEO not as controlling every detail, but as building the strongest possible team and giving them the tools, clarity, and direction needed to execute at speed. Reflecting on this approach, Leonardo explains: “The secret to success is execution. That requires simplicity, real-time feedback, attention to detail, hard work, and a clear vision of where you want to go.” This execution-first mindset shapes KarHub’s daily operations and has been central to its rapid growth. Leonardo’s leadership style is deeply influenced by his personal and professional journey. Having lived and worked across four countries on three continents, he brings a global perspective rooted in empathy and adaptability. His career spans investment banking at Brazil’s largest bank, leadership roles at Kraft Heinz, and being COO and CFO at an early-stage HR tech. Across these environments, Leonardo learned the importance of surrounding himself with Spare Car Parts from Trusted Suppliers – All Done Online Buying the right car part, at the right time and for the right price, has long been a headache for vehicle owners. By connecting customers with Brazil’s leading autoparts suppliers and leveraging cutting-edge technology, KarHub has transformed a traditionally complex market into a seamless online experience. With CEO Leonardo Canepa named Most Influential CEO 2025 – Automotive E Commerce Innovation (Brazil) and KarHub awarded Best Online Auto Parts Marketplace 2025 – Brazil, we spoke with Leonardo about the company’s journey, culture, and future. people who are often better than himself in their respective fields. Over time, his leadership has evolved from hands-on control to trustbased empowerment, allowing teams to solve problems collaboratively with clear context and direction. “Our team is the secret sauce of the company. Our COO brings over 30 years of auto-parts experience, and our CTO has more than 25 years in tech, including auto-parts tech. Together, we are far stronger than we would ever be individually.” This alignment is especially important in a market as fragmented as Brazil’s auto-parts industry, where thousands of suppliers still operate with limited digital infrastructure. One of KarHub’s core challenges has been unifying data and inventory across this ecosystem, a challenge that has driven significant investment in technology. Today, KarHub operates with proprietary AIpowered cataloguing, dynamic pricing, and logistics integrations, positioning the company not just as a marketplace, but as an enabling layer for the entire industry. This technological edge has earned KarHub industry recognition, including being named Brazil’s fastest-growing startup on two occasions, while opening the door to large-scale partnerships and fintech integrations that create new revenue streams and strengthen customer retention. Looking ahead, Leonardo remains focused on building the right team and maintaining clear priorities. “Trying to do everything usually means achieving very little,” he notes. It is this discipline, combined with a strong execution culture and a diverse leadership background, that positions Leonardo as the ideal leader to guide KarHub’s continued growth, a role now recognised with his Most Influential CEO 2025 title. As KarHub’s own award reflects, however, success is ultimately a collective effort, built on alignment, technology, and trust across every level of the organisation. O Contact: Leonardo Canepa Company: KarHub Web Address: www.karhub.com
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 14 CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2026 17 True MedTech Transformation Improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery – and the health of the entire nation in turn – is the ambitious mission of AXREM, the trade association representing the suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT, and care equipment in the UK. Leading the charge of this mission is Sally Edgington, a transformative CEO whose leadership has earned recognition in the 2025 Most Influential CEO Awards. We caught up with Sally below to learn more about her journey, and the pivotal work AXREM does in supporting the nation’s hospitals. AXREM members are responsible for supplying the majority of the diagnostic medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment used by UK hospitals in lifesaving work every day, which leads these member companies and their employees to work hand in hand with a variety of healthcare professionals to deliver outstanding patient care. In this organised structure, AXREM plays a pivotal role in promoting and developing the industry by nurturing collaborative environments and building a true sense of community. A member-focused organisation through and through, AXREM works tirelessly to support each company it represents – all while embodying sustainability, cybersecurity, and innovation across its operations, as well as ensuring that the NHS retains access to safe, efficient, and future-focused healthcare technology. This underlying approach fuels the close-knit, fast-growing association, which blends a personal and approachable service with an expansive supplier network to offer accessible, responsive member support. CEO Sally Edgington spearheads this operation, leading the organisation’s strategy, growth, and member engagement to ensure AXREM delivers real value to the UK’s medtech community. Under Sally’s guidance, AXREM membership has doubled in the last 12 months, with the organisation recently celebrating the milestone of its 100th member by leveraging its commitment to sustainability and planting 100 trees through the NHS Forest Initiative. Initiatives such as this reflect the long-term impact Sally seeks to deliver through her role at the helm of AXREM, further demonstrated by the blend of strategic vision and practical support that has come to define her leadership. This stems from an incredibly personal place for Sally, who missed a significant amount of school as a teenager due to time spent in hospital. Leaving school with no GCSEs, Sally was determined that this would not define her, and she set about building a life for herself. In 1996, Sally took on her first job as a trainee manager for Whitbread – managing a big team across a pub, restaurant, and hotel – which taught her a lot about leadership, team dynamics, and delivering service under pressure. Over the years, Sally moved into various managerial roles – including business development, marketing, and national sales – and also worked in the third sector to support disabled and older people through housing grants, working closely with local services and occupational therapists. “The turning point for me came when I joined the British Healthcare Trade Association as Membership Engagement Manager,” she recalled. “I loved the purpose and potential of a trade association – how it could bring together industry expertise, create real value, and drive change. From there, I was headhunted to lead AXREM in March 2019.” Since joining AXREM, Sally has poured her energy into organisational transformation: driving membership, professionalising governance, developing policy voice, and deepening engagement. Across these advancements, Sally has drawn on her early life challenges to build an organisation that elevates voices, drives technology with real impact, and supports its members to have a stronger influence on healthcare – an organisation deserving of its recognition as the UK’s Best MedTech Trade Association 2025. Looking to the future, Sally intends to uphold this passion through a number of exciting upcoming plans that reflect AXREM’s commitment to its members and the wider healthcare community. One key initiative is the launch of the company’s Women’s Network in March 2026, born from the annual International Women’s Day event, which will provide a meaningful space for members to connect, share experiences, and support one another. Alongside its flagship initiatives, AXREM will continue to focus on member growth, engagement, and sustainability, as Sally guides the organisation to success. Under her remarkable leadership, the company remains a trusted partner to its community and a strong advocate for the sector. For her tremendous contributions to the field, significantly shaping the growth of AXREM and the wider medtech community, Sally has been rightfully named the United Kingdom’s Most Influential CEO 2025 in Industry Leadership. “My focus is on continuing to build AXREM’s impact while developing as a leader,” Sally concluded. “Professionally, I want to ensure that the organisation remains at the forefront of medtech innovation and advocacy, supporting our members to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive positive change in healthcare.” Contact: Sally Edgington Company: AXREM Web Address: www.axrem.org.uk Nov23008
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 15 CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2026 13 Rajeev Arya: Leading with Empathy and Empowerment For more than two decades, Rajeev Arya has served as a key player in the field of financial services and technology, witnessing the sector evolve through several transformative waves of change. Since entering the industry, Rajeev has led a career driven by curiosity and shaped by a desire to solve the problems others overlook. This ethos has propelled Rajeev to stand at the forefront of the industry, undertaking a number of senior management and leadership roles at a wide range of leading organisations. Rajeev joined OPAL in 2024, stepping into the company as its CEO. OPAL is a UK-based administrations software and solutions business, specialising in protection, pensions, and wealth management products. The company has developed and launched Pandora inhouse, a wealth protection and management platform that enables rapidly delivered, flexible digital solutions to connect its clients with their customers however and whenever they require – all in one comprehensive platform. “Building OPAL was not about chasing trends; it was about creating something that genuinely improves how firms operate day to day,” Rajeev told us. “That mindset has taken me from hands-on delivery roles to leading a company that is now recognised across the UK for its impact and innovation.” As CEO, Rajeev believes that his role is to set the vision and ensure that every element of OPAL moves with complete cohesion and purpose. He leads his team with a dual focus: ensuring his people have the clarity and confidence to deliver at their very best, while simultaneously remaining close to the business’s clients and technologies in recognition of their role in shaping the future of OPAL. Understanding all aspects of the business is imperative to Rajeev, with the belief that the most effective CEOs are those who can “talk tech in the morning and client relationships in the afternoon.” To Rajeev, leadership must be grounded in clarity and trust. “Over the years, I’ve learned that empathy is as powerful as strategy,” he added. “You can set the best targets in the world, but if your team doesn’t feel seen or supported, performance will always fall short. My approach today balances accountability with genuine care – people will work harder when they know they are valued.” Under Rajeev’s guidance, OPAL fosters an internal culture built on trust, accountability, and collaboration. Rajeev spends extensive time with his teams, identifying areas of operational success and areas for improvement, and ensuring that their ideas actually translate into tangible action. Every member of the team understands how and why their role contributes to sustained success and, as a result, believe in each other and in the overarching mission. Driven by such a standout team, OPAL is well-equipped to meet any industry challenges headon. The financial technology sector is continually evolving, with ongoing changes to regulations and data security complemented by the widespread adoption of AI and automation into services. These advancements present both obstacle and opportunity for OPAL, having a direct hand in shaping clients’ expectations and demands. The next 12 months will see OPAL continue to expand its platform’s capabilities with deeper automation, smarter analytics, and even stronger integration for its clients. The company is investing heavily in both technology and people, with the recognition that both are critical to its next phase of growth. Beyond that, OPAL’s focus is on scaling internationally whilst retaining the same unrivalled standards that has earned its status as the Best Digital Administration Platform 2025. As for Rajeev’s future, he shared: “We’ve built something we are genuinely proud of – technology that is transforming how financial administration works in the UK and beyond. Recognition as the UK’s Most Influential CEO 2025 in Financial Technology and Administration is a milestone, but not a finish line. My focus is on taking OPAL to the next level and setting new benchmarks for how digital administration should be done.” Contact: Rajeev Arya Company: OPAL Web Address: www.opal-uk.com Since its inception in 1994, Outsourced Professional Administration Limited (OPAL) has been providing superior lifetime administration software and solutions to some of the biggest names in financial services. The entrepreneurial company is headed by CEO Rajeev Arya, a visionary leader boasting more than 25 years of experience at the helm of leading financial services enterprises. We spoke with Rajeev to learn more information, as he is named in the 2025 Most Influential CEO Awards.
CEO MONTHLY / MOST INFLUENTIAL CEO AWARDS 2025 16 CEO MONTHLY / JUNE 2025 11 Akanksha Rais: Powering Change. Earning Recognition. Leading with Purpose. Akanksha Rais is the solo Founder and CEO of Capitawise, a role that spans across the full spectrum of building and scaling an earlystage Insurtech venture. Since founding Capitawise in April 2024, Akanksha’s time has been primarily divided into three core areas of operation: product development, investment strategy, and sales and marketing. “Wearing multiple hats is not always easy,” she shared. “Every day brings new challenges and shifting priorities, but I find deep satisfaction in the journey. There’s a unique calm in the chaos that I experience now – something I never quite felt in my previous roles. It’s the calm that comes from doing work aligned with your vision, building something meaningful from the ground up, and seeing the impact it can have on an industry in need of change.” “My mantra has always been simple: work hard, stay focused, and be consistent.” Akanksha’s journey to founding and leading Capitawise has been one shaped by curiosity, discipline, and a deep desire to create meaningful change in industries that shape our daily lives. She began her professional life as an engineer, her early career grounded in the high-tech, high-precision world of semiconductors. As rewarding as the world of semiconductors was, however, Akanksha began to feel a pull towards solving more systemic, people-centric problems – ones that required a bridge between technology and everyday decision-making. That pull eventually led her to the insurance industry, more than 15 years ago. To Akanksha, it was a natural evolution: both industries are complex, data-intensive, and foundational to modern life. “My transition into insurance was hands-on and comprehensive,” Akanksha recalled. “I didn’t just study insurance from the outside; I embedded myself in the very heart of its operations. I worked closely with claim departments, absorbing the challenges of frontline claims processing and customer service.” Reflecting upon her journey, Akanksha noted that one of her most formative periods came during a series of post-merger integrations. These experiences taught her not only about the financial and operational restructuring required after a merger, but also about the human side – how to navigate cultural shifts, align disparate systems, and drive change in environments that are often resistant to it. “Today, I feel equally confident discussing system architecture as I do engaging in a strategic discussion with investors or insurance executives. This dual fluency allows me to make faster, more informed decisions and to build bridges across departments, disciplines, and even industries.” What truly distinguishes Akanksha’s inspirational journey is that she never saw technology and business as separate disciplines, instead believing that great innovation sits at their intersection. Over time, this belief allowed Akanksha to evolve from a technologist into a business strategist without ever abandoning her technical roots. Today, Akanksha leads a company shaping the future of insurance finance, earning herself the title of the UK’s Most Influential CEO 2025 in Financial Technology. When Akanksha founded Capitawise, it was with the conviction that insurers deserved better tools, tools that don’t just crunch numbers but provide actionable intelligence. Insurers operate in one of the most data-rich but insight-poor environments, and Akanksha saw firsthand how legacy systems, siloed data, and fragmented workflows were costing millions in efficiencies and lost opportunities. Capitawise was born from a desire to solve that, unifying critical financial data into a single source of truth and helping insurers to unlock capital, reduce risk, and drive performance with confidence. “The journey has also been deeply personal. I’ve learned resilience through failure, humility through collaboration, and confidence through repetition.” “In reflection, every role I took on, every sector I explored, Capitawise was founded with one mission: to fundamentally transform the way insurers manage their financial strategy, regulatory obligations, and capital allocation. At its core, Capitawise is focused on making insurers fundamentally more agile, strategic, and future-ready in their financial operations. At the helm of this leading company sits Akanksha Rais, its Founder and CEO, named in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. She told us more, below. and every problem I tried to solve was a stepping stone that brought me to where I am today,” Akanksha concluded. “Capitawise is not just a company, it’s a culmination of everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve built, and everything I believe the insurance world needs to thrive in the future. “And yet, this is just the beginning. The road ahead is filled with opportunities to continue learning, to scale our vision, and to keep transforming one of the most critical industries of our time. I’m incredibly grateful for the journey so far, and I remain energised by the impact we’re poised to make in the years to come.” Contact: Akanksha Rais [email protected] Company: Capitawise Ltd Web Address: https://capitawise.co.uk/ Linkedin: akanksha-rais
www.ceo-review.comRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==