Our team
TASH COURTENAY-SMITH
Tash Courtenay-Smith is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and the co-founder and CEO of Bolt Digital. Tash is also a member of the CEW board, a professional organisation that promotes the British beauty industry, driving its dynamic growth in the global beauty economy.
Tash is also an accredited ambassador for Meta as part of their She Means Business campaign, spearheaded by Sheryl Sandberg, which has helped train over 10,000 female entrepreneurs across the UK.
STEVE BOLTON
Steve Bolton is a successful serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and philanthropist. He has helped launch more than 500 new businesses, experienced two painful business failures and is the Founder of the fastest growing premium franchise brand in British history.
Today Steve is the Founder and Group CEO of Bolt, which comprises three divisions: Bolt Digital, Bolt Partners and Bolt Talent. All Bolt businesses support the group mission which is to accelerate growth, value and positive impact in direct-to-consumer technology, brands and teams.
DAVID BELL
David stared his career at Steria, eventually working his way up to Financial Controller before moving over to Pentland Brands in 2013. David has worked with Ted Baker, Kickers, Ellesse, Boxfresh and Kangaroos, finessing commercial partnerships across 50+ countries, and leading the category management function across brands. He has since joined Bolt to share his financial expertise with the group.
SHIVALI BENNION
Having managed budgets totalling over $15M+, with experience across both FMCG and Luxury using a mixture of new customer acquisition and retention strategies, Shivali has in-depth knowledge of D2C and ability to adapt to business needs, which is especially important in the current ever-changing digital landscape. As a growth-focussed, digital expert with more than five years’ experience, she found the best results when implementing customer-centric test-and-learn agile methodology to campaigns and relying on data-driven insight to support decision making.
DAN MASON
Dan leads the performance team, applying his learnings over the past 7 years working in performance advertising roles across leading UK agencies. His Economics background results in a logical and methodical approach to problem solving / data analysis. His clients in the past have included the likes of Netflix, where he helped launch Black Mirror season 3. Whilst also helping grow brands within the e-commerce space such as Hunter Wellies, Hendricks Gin and Kawasaki. He recently completed his mini MBA in marketing.
RACHEL KIRCHEM
Rachel comes from a background in Luxury Beauty Marketing. During her career she has worked in partnership with various UK retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Hut Group, Feel Unique, Cult Beauty and many more. Previously she led the trade marketing for the UK for Luxury Beauty Brand Molton Brown for all partners, prior to this she worked in the Prestige division of Elizabeth Arden / Revlon launching niche beauty brands to the UK market.
SAMANTHA WEDGE
Having started at Platinum Business Partners as a Junior Accounts Assistant in 2014, Sam worked her way up to Group Finance Manager of Bolt, whilst simultaneously founding and managing a boutique wedding planning service.
HANA NOGUCHI
Over the years, Hana has worked on a diverse number of projects as a Marketing Manager, Photographer and Content Producer – working with the likes of Jamie Oliver, Pixi Beauty, the Royal Family of Luxembourg, and creating tourism videos for Visit Faroe Islands and more. Her photography work was featured on major publications and digital platforms such as The Sunday Times, The Independent, METRO, National Geographic, ITV and Marie Claire. She is now the Creative Producer at Bolt Digital to share her immersive creative production experience with Bolt’s many clients.
EMILY SANDIFORD
Emily has worked in advertising, PR and social media, and published articles on art, film and cultural trends. Having worked on projects for Estrella Damm, Deichmann and Cetaphil, Emily joined Bolt Digital to specialise in copywriting and content creation.
AGNIESZKA POTOCZNA
Agnieszka has worked across photography and film for a range of international magazines, including Vogue, LUCY’S and Hunter Magazine. She has worked in content creation for fashion and beauty brands for the past 2 years, priding herself on creating agile, scroll-stopping creatives.
YASMIN BAUER
Yasmin recently graduated from OTH Regensburg and Oxford Brookes University with a honours double-degree in European Business, specialising in International Marketing.
During her studies she interned for a UK charity in Cambodia, working in community development and environmental conservation. Here, she discovered her passion for digital marketing. Yasmin completed a six-month placement at a London based sustainability consultancy focused on sustainability communications, digital marketing, and research.
DILARA YOON-YILDIZ
Having graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Oriental Studies, Dilara earned a 2:1 alongside a First-Class Honours dissertation. She has previously done work experience in finance and consulting firms, as well as completed a marketing internship in Istanbul, Turkey during her year abroad. Dilara now works for Bolt Digital as part of the Performance Team, working with a range of clients across the beauty, wellness, and beverage industries.
SOPHIA HUANG
Sophia recently graduated with a first class honours degree in Business and Management. She’s previously interned for a London based PR agency where she worked on clients like Coca-cola and Minivino. She’s now joined Bolt Digital as a Performance Graduate working across a range of clients within the beauty and lifestyle industry.
MATT HYLAND
Since graduating with a first class honours in Film, Matt has worked with the likes of Apple, Autodesk and Direct Line. With a passion and talent for animation, Matt’s ability to bring photographs to life has been paramount to creating some of our clients’ most eye-catching content. He co-founded creative agency Eastkin which saw them work with some of the biggest corporations in the world.
RICHARD WASHINGTON
Richard has opened, led and managed multi-million pound business units in the UK, USA, New Zealand and APAC in the Blue Chip Sales and Marketing space. He brings a deep managerial and leadership ability along with a big passion for spotting and developing talent. At Bolt Talent we’re shaking up the traditional recruitment industry to put candidate education first and give everyone a better experience along the way.
TASH COURTENAY-SMITH
Tash Courtenay-Smith is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and the co-founder and CEO of Bolt Digital. Tash is also a member of the CEW board, a professional organisation that promotes the British beauty industry, driving its dynamic growth in the global beauty economy.
Tash is also an accredited ambassador for Meta as part of their She Means Business campaign, spearheaded by Sheryl Sandberg, which has helped train over 10,000 female entrepreneurs across the UK.
STEVE BOLTON
Steve Bolton is a successful serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and philanthropist. He has helped launch more than 500 new businesses, experienced two painful business failures and is the Founder of the fastest growing premium franchise brand in British history.
Today Steve is the Founder and Group CEO of Bolt, which comprises three divisions: Bolt Digital, Bolt Partners and Bolt Talent. All Bolt businesses support the group mission which is to accelerate growth, value and positive impact in direct-to-consumer technology, brands and teams.
DAVID BELL
David stared his career at Steria, eventually working his way up to Financial Controller before moving over to Pentland Brands in 2013. David has worked with Ted Baker, Kickers, Ellesse, Boxfresh and Kangaroos, finessing commercial partnerships across 50+ countries, and leading the category management function across brands. He has since joined Bolt to share his financial expertise with the group.
SHIVALI BENNION
Having managed budgets totalling over $15M+, with experience across both FMCG and Luxury using a mixture of new customer acquisition and retention strategies, Shivali has in-depth knowledge of D2C and ability to adapt to business needs, which is especially important in the current ever-changing digital landscape. As a growth-focussed, digital expert with more than five years’ experience, she found the best results when implementing customer-centric test-and-learn agile methodology to campaigns and relying on data-driven insight to support decision making.
DAN MASON
Dan leads the performance team, applying his learnings over the past 7 years working in performance advertising roles across leading UK agencies. His Economics background results in a logical and methodical approach to problem solving / data analysis. His clients in the past have included the likes of Netflix, where he helped launch Black Mirror season 3. Whilst also helping grow brands within the e-commerce space such as Hunter Wellies, Hendricks Gin and Kawasaki. He recently completed his mini MBA in marketing.
RACHEL KIRCHEM
Rachel comes from a background in Luxury Beauty Marketing. During her career she has worked in partnership with various UK retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Hut Group, Feel Unique, Cult Beauty and many more. Previously she led the trade marketing for the UK for Luxury Beauty Brand Molton Brown for all partners, prior to this she worked in the Prestige division of Elizabeth Arden / Revlon launching niche beauty brands to the UK market.
SAMANTHA WEDGE
Having started at Platinum Business Partners as a Junior Accounts Assistant in 2014, Sam worked her way up to Group Finance Manager of Bolt, whilst simultaneously founding and managing a boutique wedding planning service.
HANA NOGUCHI
Over the years, Hana has worked on a diverse number of projects as a Marketing Manager, Photographer and Content Producer – working with the likes of Jamie Oliver, Pixi Beauty, the Royal Family of Luxembourg, and creating tourism videos for Visit Faroe Islands and more. Her photography work was featured on major publications and digital platforms such as The Sunday Times, The Independent, METRO, National Geographic, ITV and Marie Claire. She is now the Creative Producer at Bolt Digital to share her immersive creative production experience with Bolt’s many clients.
EMILY SANDIFORD
Emily has worked in advertising, PR and social media, and published articles on art, film and cultural trends. Having worked on projects for Estrella Damm, Deichmann and Cetaphil, Emily joined Bolt Digital to specialise in copywriting and content creation.
AGNIESZKA POTOCZNA
Agnieszka has worked across photography and film for a range of international magazines, including Vogue, LUCY’S and Hunter Magazine. She has worked in content creation for fashion and beauty brands for the past 2 years, priding herself on creating agile, scroll-stopping creatives.
YASMIN BAUER
Yasmin recently graduated from OTH Regensburg and Oxford Brookes University with a honours double-degree in European Business, specialising in International Marketing.
During her studies she interned for a UK charity in Cambodia, working in community development and environmental conservation. Here, she discovered her passion for digital marketing. Yasmin completed a six-month placement at a London based sustainability consultancy focused on sustainability communications, digital marketing, and research.
DILARA YOON-YILDIZ
Having graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Oriental Studies, Dilara earned a 2:1 alongside a First-Class Honours dissertation. She has previously done work experience in finance and consulting firms, as well as completed a marketing internship in Istanbul, Turkey during her year abroad. Dilara now works for Bolt Digital as part of the Performance Team, working with a range of clients across the beauty, wellness, and beverage industries.
SOPHIA HUANG
Sophia recently graduated with a first class honours degree in Business and Management. She’s previously interned for a London based PR agency where she worked on clients like Coca-cola and Minivino. She’s now joined Bolt Digital as a Performance Graduate working across a range of clients within the beauty and lifestyle industry.
MATT HYLAND
Since graduating with a first class honours in Film, Matt has worked with the likes of Apple, Autodesk and Direct Line. With a passion and talent for animation, Matt’s ability to bring photographs to life has been paramount to creating some of our clients’ most eye-catching content. He co-founded creative agency Eastkin which saw them work with some of the biggest corporations in the world.
RICHARD WASHINGTON
Richard has opened, led and managed multi-million pound business units in the UK, USA, New Zealand and APAC in the Blue Chip Sales and Marketing space. He brings a deep managerial and leadership ability along with a big passion for spotting and developing talent. At Bolt Talent we’re shaking up the traditional recruitment industry to put candidate education first and give everyone a better experience along the way.