Pennies’ 2025 survey reveals rising public support for everyday giving, as more consumers look to donate digitally this Giving Tuesday.
About us
Meet our ambassadors.
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 Newman
Global Speaker, Author and Board Advisor, Portfolio
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 Bradley
Director & Founder, Retail Technology Show
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 Butler
Co-Founder and CEO, Humaine
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.
Ryan McDonnell
Chief Executive Officer, Lidl GB
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.
Industry insights in our Content Hub.
Find interviews, thought-leadership and guest blog posts from industry leaders across retail and hospitality, payments, fintech and charity.
UK Giving is Evolving as Micro-Donations Gain Momentum
Pennies’ 2025 survey reveals rising public support for everyday giving, as more consumers look to donate digitally this Giving Tuesday.
Despite cost-of-living pressures, more people are giving to charity digitally than ever before
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.
Coventry Building Society CEO boosts Pennies advisory board
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.
Start your journey now.
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.