Our ambassadors play a vital role in representing and championing Pennies, helping to raise awareness of our work and extend our reach through their networks and influence.
Martin is widely recognised as the “Consumer Champion” with over four decades of experience in consumer-facing industries. A global expert in customer centricity and customer experience, he has led multichannel operations for brands including Burberry, Ted Baker and Harrods, and scaled and sold the global e-commerce agency Practicology. Passionate about driving positive change, Martin brings deep insight into customer behaviour and the strategies needed to meet evolving customer needs.
Matt is a prominent figure in the retail industry and is primarily known for his leadership of the Retail Technology Show which he’s built to become the UK’s biggest event dedicated to the future of retail, hospitality, and leisure. His insights bridge strategy and execution making him a trusted voice in the retail landscape which has seen him appear in countless top retail expert and influencers lists.
Mike is a marketing and partnerships leader with a strong focus on uniting sales and marketing within the retail sector. He works closely with retail clients and ecosystem partners to deliver AI-native marketing programmes, guided by a belief in the power of collaboration. Passionate about connecting people and giving back, Mike is an Ambassador for Pennies and The Retail Trust, and supports Mellon Educate through its annual school-building initiative in South Africa.
Born in Dublin, Ryan began his career in the family construction business before joining Lidl Ireland’s Graduate Programme in 2000. After roles at Lidl’s International Headquarters in Germany and in Austria, he returned to Lidl Ireland to help establish the Commercial division, including Buying and Marketing. Ryan joined the Board in 2006 as Chief Commercial Officer, later taking on the same role at Lidl GB. He became CEO of Lidl GB in February 2022 and now leads over 1,000 stores, 14 distribution centres and over 35,000 employees across Great Britain.
Paul was one of the early colleagues to join the Pennies movement in 2013 and has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Pennies movement over the last 13 years. In his role as Chief Partnerships Officer before he retired Paul lead all partner engagement across retail, hospitality and the paytech industry as well as having oversight of Marketing and Charity relationships. Paul had previously held senior positions in the financial services industry for 30 years including at Barclays and other Banks mainly in Retail Financial Services where he built a reputation for building highly performing teams and leading the deployment of significant innovative projects. Given Paul’s passion, contribution and experience at Pennies he has agreed to remain as an ambassador as he moves into retirement and enjoying life in France.
Gary and Catherine Grant founded The Entertainer in 1981 with a mission to become “the best-loved toyshop – one child, one community at a time.” The business grew to 160 stores across the UK and international franchise locations, alongside concession partnerships with Tesco and Matalan. Believing that business can be a force for good, Gary modelled and encouraged generosity through Payroll Giving in the workplace and the pioneering of Pennies. Mindful of giving back, 10% of profits each year were distributed by way of The Grant Foundation, supporting hundreds of smaller charitable initiatives. Gary also served as Patron of several charities. Gary remains active within the retail sector and is currently focused on supporting local charity and community projects for children and young people in Amersham.
Find interviews, thought-leadership and guest blog posts from industry leaders across retail and hospitality, payments, fintech and charity.
Pennies’ 2025 survey reveals rising public support for everyday giving, as more consumers look to donate digitally this Giving Tuesday.
Pennies, the award-winning fintech charity, found in a survey that 48% of UK consumers would be more likely to micro-donate if they knew giving just 35p a week could raise £1 billion annually for charities.
Steve Hughes, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Coventry Building Society, has joined the Advisory Board of Pennies – the UK’s leading micro-donation fintech charity.
From retail, hospitality and technology brands looking to make a real difference, to charities looking to boost their impact, now is your chance to join the micro-donation movement.
