Drapers' Hall once again hosted The Company of Entrepreneurs for the last Freedom Ceremony of Gary Dixon's tenure as the outgoing Master, a leader who had steered the company through challenges and triumphs.  5 new Freemen were admitted, and we look forward to their future engagement with The Company.

Rakhitha Dias

Rakhitha Dias started his entrepreneurial journey as a kid in Sri Lanka learning from his enterprising father; Rakhitha’s own entrepreneurial career began at age 9 by growing and selling fish. He then did a deal to import mobile phones from Dubai and sell them profitably in Sri Lanka – and he even ran a business selling personal safes at the age of 16.

Rakhitha studied electronic engineering in the UK, and in 2009 he established his current business providing software, technology, and server support as well as consulting. Rakhitha also has set up a sister company in Sri Lanka. He has built a strong work culture and a committed team around him.
Rakhitha already undertakes various charitable projects, including providing school bags and shoes to poorer Sri Lankan children who live in rural areas and is keen to contribution to education projects through the Company of Entrepreneurs.

Dominic Duru

Dominic represented Great Britain in athletics between the ages of 16 and 18, and went on to study Business, Finance and Management at Loughborough University which supports many sportspeople;
After working at Citibank for his placement year, he joined the bank in the securities lending team – working with pension funds, asset managers and hedge funds that wanted to borrow securities.
Dominic started working with various FinTech clients and realised that there were opportunities to provide ForEx services to SME’s and MME’s firms in less liquid markets in Africa.

In 2020 Dominic co-founded DKK Partners and has successfully grown the business to turnover of approximately $300m with average deal sizes of $½m; the business employs over 25 staff in London, Dubai, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal and Nigeria;
He is especially interested in the Company’s education and outreach projects. DKK Partners is a 2023 Principal Benefactor of the Company of Entrepreneurs Trust.

Paul Eveleigh

Leaving the UK at age 2, Paul has now moved back here from China in 2020.  He is currently Founder/Chairman of Supply Chain In-Sites, a rapid disruptor in the UK food certification market, and is currently building a follow-on business in the livestock inspection industry.

Prior to return to the UK and entrepreneurialism, Paul was EVP Asia Pacific & Head of Greater China for 6 six years for FTSE 100 AVEVA, a Cambridge-based software business.Paul’s first entrepreneurial venture was in 2004, as founder/CEO of Honiton Energy, where he built China's first successful foreign-owned wind-power producer from start to a $250m business. 

Coming out of university, Paul spent 11 years in Investment Management for major banks in Canada.  He has a Finance degree from the University of British Columbia and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. 

Paul is a Rotary Past-President and has charitably-built education facilities in poor regions of Asia.

Edmund May

Ed has over 25 years’ experience in the IT and telecommunications industries in a number of senior positions. Currently CEO of a group of Tech businesses based in UK, Romania, Bangladesh and Poland. Focussing on bespoke software development, design, and AI. He has a proven track record in developing, growing, and re-structuring a business to maximise profitability, capability and business efficiency. His key strength areas include business integration (mergers & acquisitions), delivering innovative solutions for top-line business goals. Ed has a strong commercial and operational background working with clients in a spectrum of industries such as Glaxo SmithKline, BAE, Welsh Government, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland. Ed strives to deliver an operating model where service excellence is delivered as standard. 

Outside of work Ed, an ex-semi pro ice hockey player, enjoys time with his family. He enjoys the outdoors, spending time by the coast, travel and, it looks as though he will fit right in because  he says he plays golf badly.

Damian McLaughlin

 

Damian started business life as a Business Studies graduate apprentice, in the automotive sector, then qualified as an MBA and switching to the finance sector, joining HSBC and working in their retail, business, corporate and merchant banking departments over a 10 year period. During this time he joined the Prince’s Trust, volunteering as a business mentor. Damian rounded off his corporate career at the London Stock Exchange where he served on the Alternative Investment Market Steering  Committee, as an SME Adviser overseeing the launch of the AIM market. He was also involved in the LSE’s structural transition from an organization owned by its members to a plc owned by shareholders.
For the last 20+ years Damian has operated in the UK real estate space, owning several property investment, management and development businesses. He’s currently focused on serving the needs of the supported living sector.

Married, with two children, he loves travel, snow skiing, biking and walking. After a rigorous assessment, Damian is already a member of the Entrepreneurs' Snow Dragons ski team.   

 

Following this the solemn yet celebratory event we witnessed the transfer of leadership to Mark Huxley, installed as the 10th Master of The Company of Entrepreneurs.  The service was led by Reverence Sophia Acland at St Lawrence Jewry, filling the ceremony with spiritual significance.
Following the service, the company reconvened at Drapers' Hall for a champagne reception, a celebration of new beginnings. The air buzzed with conversations as guests, including representatives from sponsors and partner organizations, mingled in support of The Company's endeavours. Air Commodores Dan James and Chris Melville OBE represented the company's RAF affiliates, highlighting the commitment to partnerships in military education and innovation.
Emma Rousell, the adept Beadle for the evening, orchestrated the proceedings.
The Hon. Chaplain, Reverend Sophia Acland, graced the gathering, offering a moment of grace before the three-course dinner. The Master expressed gratitude for the presence of distinguished guests, particularly welcoming the Masters of the Worshipful Companies of Woolmen, Glovers, Marketors, and Nurses. A special acknowledgment reserved for the Master Draper, recognizing his generosity on this significant evening.

As the night unfolded, the first Master's bell rang in honour of Founder and Master, Dan Doherty, who passed away in office in March 2016. His legacy lived on, intertwined with the festivities that celebrated continuity, generosity, and the vibrant future under the leadership of Mark Huxley. The evening was a testament to the rich tapestry of tradition, partnerships, and the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to define The Company of Entrepreneurs.
"It is my duty and my pleasure to confirm that, at the Election Court held on Thursday 29th June 2023, the following were elected to serve as officers of the Company of Entrepreneurs from today:
As Master - Mark Norman Huxley
As Senior Warden Warden - Alderman Alastair John Naisbitt King
As Middle Warden - James John Sherrington Talbot
As Junior Warden - Jatinder Singh Wasu”