Expotel’s key personnel

Ian Sparks, CEO
Ian is a highly-experienced and well-respected CEO with 24 years of experience in managing and growing business service companies. Prior to joining Expotel Ian was Managing Director of FirstAssist Services, the health and wellbeing services provider.

His managerial career started with Thomas Cook as General Manager and has encompassed spells as Chief Executive at Cendant’s European corporate relocation arm where he tripled market share and quadrupled profits in 5 years. Then as Chief Executive of the Casella Group he managed the transition of the company from a turnaround phase into a sustained period of high organic growth.

James Steventon, Group Sales Director
James is the Group Sales Director for Expotel.  A highly experienced Director with a strong sales and leadership background, James is responsible for the group revenue target and manages the new business acquisition and account management teams. 

James began his sales career in 1990 with a retail security company.  His first role in IT software sales was within the new business team for Misys Plc and, during his 4 year tenure, focussed on selling property management systems (PMS) into the hospitality industry.  James held Sales Director roles with two computer software companies the first developing service desk management tools and the other customer relationship management (CRM). 

James worked for a large systems integrator in a business development leadership role prior to joining Cable & Wireless in 2000. James held a number of high profile positions including Managing Director of their pan European web hosting business; software development and systems integration business and leading, growing and successfully disposing of two wholly owned subsidiaries in 2007.

Prior to joining Expotel James held an interim Managing Director role for 2 years at Computacenter Plc integrating four business units to create an enterprise scale network integration business with a turnover of approx. £100m.

Steve Hall, Customer Service Director
Steve has a wealth of experience of customer service gained from several different industries; IT, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Investment Banking and Utilities. As a consultant in customer service he managed several projects putting the customer at the front and centre of major blue chip organisational restructures. As operations director he is responsible for the operational elements of the core travel and accommodation business and developing this in line with industry changes.

Just prior to joining Expotel in June 2008 Steve was the customer service director for a major Telecommunications company where he managed their customer service organisation and two managed outsource contracts.

Mark Bevan, Head of Partner Services
As Expotel’s Head of Partner Services, Mark comes with a strong background of more than 25 years in general management roles, recently focusing more on Procurement and Commercial. Mark previously worked for Black Box Ltd a global computer networking business as the UK Sales Director and then as UK Operations Director.

Before this post Mark worked for Cable and Wireless managing a purchasing division; his responsibilities were to ensure that supply chain strategies were in line with wider business objectives and to manage costs effectively.

Jane Wheeler, Head of HR
Jane has nearly 30 years’ experience in HR and staff development. She has previously worked in managerial roles within Central Government before moving into learning and development at the Department for Work and Pensions’ head office training centre.

Following this she worked in financial services for over 15 years. Initially with Refuge Assurance, which following a merger became United Friendly Assurance, and then after a takeover, Royal London Mutual. Jane moved from learning and development positions to HR Manager heavily involved in the mergers and takeovers, managing large teams across multiple sites. Prior to moving to Expotel in 2004, Jane was responsible for teams in Royal London’s head office and at Scottish Life in Edinburgh.

Ian Ferguson, IT Director
As Expotel’s Director of IT, Ian Ferguson is responsible for the IT Infrastructure and Development teams. Ian is highly passionate about deploying the right technologies within Business Travel, whether online or offline he is continuously pushing the boundaries where possible to ensure user experience is at the forefront of design and usage. Ian has dedicated his 20 year career to date within travel, with a small excursion into the Telco space.

Ian’s career started with Bon Voyage Travel where he gained a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and benefits technology can bring. He later joined Sabre's Decision Technologies team performing both product customisation, sales and leading client implementations. Before working with Expotel Ian was IT Director at BCD; joining the organisation at the inception of this new business meant integrating the technologies of two well respected and established UK TMC's (The Travel Company & TQ3).

Anita Lowe, Chief Executive, Venues Event Management
After completing a Business Studies and catering course, Anita started her own administration company for one year. She then went on to work for the International Sales Team for Holiday Inn in London (now Marriott) before becoming Sales & Marketing Manager of the Holiday Inn (now Marriott), Dyce, Aberdeen for eight years.

Anita relocated back to Swindon as Sales Manager of the newly built Holiday Inn (now Marriott) in Swindon where she managed to secure £3million of confirmed business, the highest ever for a Holiday Inn opening.

In 1989 Anita left the Holiday Inn Group to start up her own hotel and conference booking agency. Since then the business has continued to grow, and is now one of the UK’s leading event management, conference placement, venue finding and accommodation booking agencies. Despite being the Chief Executive of Venues Event Management, Anita continues to be very client focussed and often gets involved in specific event projects. She continues to work on numerous events across the company's varied client base throughout the world. Anita Lowe is a ‘hands on’ Chief Executive who inspires staff and clients alike with her constant dedication to exceeding expectations and investing in her people.

Anita has always been very active in the local business community and became the first female President of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce in 1991.