About Us

Paul Dermody OBE, Non-Executive Chairman

Formerly Chief Executive of De Vere Group plc, Paul possesses extensive knowledge and a wealth of experience of the hospitality industry. He is a past Chairman of the British Hospitality Association and also currently serves on the Board of Directors at a number of companies.

Paul is a fellow of the British Association of Hotel Accountants, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.

Awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to the hospitality industry, Paul is now a chartered management accountant and joined the Conferma board in December 2008.

Simon Barker, Chief Executive Officer

Simon is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Conferma. Prior to establishing Conferma in 2004, Simon accumulated vast experience of the business travel industry during 18 years as Managing Director of NIS Travel Management Solutions.

Simon’s industry experience spans many disciplines and his particular interests lie in emerging technologies, settlement and distribution.

In addition to the travel industry, Simon has interests in a number of privately owned Leisure and Property businesses.

Jim Barker, Director and Co-Founder

A serial entrepreneur, Jim has spent the last 25 years creating and developing a number of successful businesses. Prior to Conferma, his expertise can not be confined to one specific discipline, having worked in diverse sectors such as Corporate Travel Management, Training, Recruitment and Bars and Restaurants.

Paul Raymond, Director of Strategic Relationships

Paul has 20 years’ experience in the business travel industry, working in the frontline for most of Europe’s largest travel management companies, including American Express Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and Hillgate Travel.

Paul also has extensive experience of working with expense management systems and managing online product development.

Steven Read, Chief Operating Officer

Steve is a former IT Director at Phones4U Group, where he played a key role in helping to grow the direct business annual turnover to £60 million in 2008.

Steve has a strong record of achievement across a number of highly competitive business sectors working for high calibre names like Reuters, the Cauldwell Group and Nestor Healthcare. His extensive experience spans the management of both large in-house IT divisions and Indian-based outsourced teams.

A keen sportsman, Steve represented England in his youth at volleyball, and Staffordshire at cricket and football.

Barbara Sutton, HR Director and Company Secretary

Our Human Resources specialist Barbara Sutton is a member of both the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the British Psychological Society.

With twenty years’ experience in the hotel industry and a further eight years’ experience in business travel, Barbara supports the business by continuous review of the organisational infrastructure to meet the needs of expansion and service provision.

Lawrence Hough, Non-Executive Director

Lawrence joined Conferma as a non-executive Director in December 2010. Larry is also the Chairman of Stuart Mill Capital, Inc. and Managing Director of Stuart Mill Venture Partners, L.P., a fund that invests principally in small and medium-sized companies with substantial growth prospects. He is also a Director of GeoEye listed on the NASDAQ (GEOY), Appistry, Inc. and Marrone Organics Innovations, Inc., both privately held corporations. Larry previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Syntix Corporation and Sato Travel.

Andy Mathews, Finance Director

Andy is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with twelve years’ post-qualified experience of fast-moving and innovative companies.

Andy was previously a member of the management buyout team of a financial services comparison website and has further industry experience including private healthcare and claims management.