Meet the BITA Team | Inspiring Business Leaders

Meet the Team Behind BITA

At the Business International Trading Alliance (BITA), our team is the driving force behind our mission to connect businesses, foster meaningful relationships, and create opportunities across the UK, Ireland, Dubai, Australia & South Africa. With a diverse blend of experience, expertise, and passion, we work together to support our members and build a thriving business community.

Get to know the people who make BITA a powerful network—dedicated professionals committed to helping you succeed.

Paul Whitnell

BITA President

Paul is the founder and president of the Business International Trading Alliance.

Vice President

MD and founder of Artisan. Vice-President of BITA Intl.

Commercial Manager & Executive Assistant to Paul Whitnell

Marcelle is Commercial Manager & Executive Assistant to BITA President; Paul Whitnell. Contact – [email protected]

Strategic Business Director

Jim is Strategic Business Director at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Rail & Operations Administrator

Eden is Rail & Operations Administrator at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Sales and Membership Executive

Luke is Sales and Membership Executive at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Regional Manager for Ireland

Aleksandra is Regional Manager Ireland at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Events Manager

Anna is Events Manager at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Administrative Assistant

Azalia is Administrative Assistant at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

Regional Director - North Region

Leading the development of BITA in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Manchester and Liverpool. Contact – [email protected]

Assistant Accountant

Safwan is an Assistant Account at BITA. Contact – [email protected]

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Non Exec Directors

Bridie Cunningham

Director at Portman Scott and BITA Non Executive Director

Bridie joined the London BITA board in September 2019 and was appointed Vice Chairperson in March 2020. “I love working with both Irish and UK business owners who are members of BITA.”

Legal consultant, BITA Non Executive Director, Causeway Director and company secretary.

James is a Causeway’s Company Secretary and a consultant in the Scottish Banking Team at international law firm CMS,

Founder Kornerstone and Partners (not-for-profit management consultancy), Part owner Director of BrightTeach (Alternative Provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, BITA Non Executive Director, Member of Global Forum

With previous experience spanning numerous executive roles, Paul is well placed to provide a level head when we need it!

Business Performance Manager at City of London, BITA Non Executive Director, London Chapter Board Member and Ex Chair

Staunch supporter of BITA since 2015 Vince gives us a corporate viewpoint and his sense of humour and team spirit know no bounds!

Founder of Will Polston Coaching & Training, Entrepreneur and BITA Non Executive Director

Will Polston is an award winning business strategist, author and performance coach.

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Our Patrons

Gavin Duffy

Chairperson of Bizworld Ireland

BITA Patron, Ireland

Managing Director at O'Donovan Waste Disposal

BITA Patron, UK

Chairman of Tide Construction

BITA Patron, UK

Chairman and CEO of the O’Flynn Group

BITA Patron, Ireland

CEO of Laing O'Rourke

BITA Patron, UK

CEO of the Ballymore Group

BITA Patron, UK

President, Glen Dimplex Group

BITA Patron, UK

Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency

BITA Patron, Ireland

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Trustees

Aidan Scollard

BITA Trustee

Aidan Scollard is based in Dublin and is a Partner at the international auditing and tax advisory firm Roberts Nathan.

BITA Trustee

Chris Phillips is Chairman of Triplepoint Social Housing, Centaurea Investments Ltd, and Londonnewcastle as well as Director of Symmetry Housing.

BITA Trustee

Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE is a high-profile businesswoman and social entrepreneur has led the UK waste and recycling industry for more than 36 years.

BITA Trustee

Michael Roddy is the Managing Director of SigmaRoc PLC, Precast Products Group, Johnston Quarry Group, GD Harries & Sons Ltd, and CCP Building Product.

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Chapter Chair

Alec Morrissey

Ireland Mid-West

Limerick Post – Media Planner

Manchester

Owner of McHale & Co Solicitors

Dublin

Co-Owner/Director of Artisan Image Solutions Limited

Northern Ireland

Brendan Murphy is a Business Growth Specialist, Sales Trainer and Business Coach

London

Managing Director of K&T Electromech Services Ltd

Kent

Operations Director at Prime Consultancy Group

Cork

CEO Republic of Work

BITAx

Founder at Total Line Marking Ltd

Birmingham

Chief Operating Officer at PocketBox Ltd

Liverpool

Managing Director of Fortnea Langley

Kent

Founder and owner of Whitcombe HR

Ireland Mid-West

BD, Sales and Marketing Manager at Stira

Dubai

CEO of Salus Holdings Group, Reacton Fire Suppression, Fireward and Dunmow Group

Cork

Founder/CEO at OceanR

Isle of Man

Principle Consultant at Carn Advisory

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Meet the Team Behind BITA

Paul Whitnell

BITA President

Billy Griffin

Vice President

Marcelle Micallef

Commercial Manager & Executive Assistant to Paul Whitnell

Jim Costello

Strategic Business Director

Eden Bray

Rail & Operations Administrator

Luke Worton

Sales and Membership Executive

Aleksandra Demse

Regional Manager for Ireland

Anna Brennan

Events Manager

Azalia Sattar

Administrative Assistant

Sarah-Louise McCartney MCIM

Regional Director - North Region

Malik Safwan Ghous

Assistant Accountant

Bridie Cunningham

Director at Portman Scott and BITA Non Executive Director

James Horton

Legal consultant, BITA Non Executive Director, Causeway Director and company secretary.

Paul Edmonds

Founder Kornerstone and Partners (not-for-profit management consultancy), Part owner Director of BrightTeach (Alternative Provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, BITA Non Executive Director, Member of Global Forum

Vince Dignam

Business Performance Manager at City of London, BITA Non Executive Director, London Chapter Board Member and Ex Chair

Will Polston

Founder of Will Polston Coaching & Training, Entrepreneur and BITA Non Executive Director

Gavin Duffy

Chairperson of Bizworld Ireland

Jacqueline O'Donovan

Managing Director at O'Donovan Waste Disposal

John Fleming

Chairman of Tide Construction

Michael O'Flynn

Chairman and CEO of the O’Flynn Group

Ray O'Rourke

CEO of Laing O'Rourke

Sean Mulryan

CEO of the Ballymore Group

Sean O'Driscoll

President, Glen Dimplex Group

Willie O'Dea

Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency

Aidan Scollard

BITA Trustee

Chris Phillips

BITA Trustee

Jacqueline O'Donovan OBE

BITA Trustee

Michael Roddy

BITA Trustee

Alec Morrissey

Ireland Mid-West

Andrew McHale

Manchester

Billy Griffin

Dublin

Brendan Murphy

Northern Ireland

Derek Murtagh

London

Emma Stafford

Kent

Frank Brennan

Cork

Frankie Clark

BITAx

Jason Laight

Birmingham

Michelle Ramejkis

Liverpool

Natalie Whitcombe

Kent

Paddy Tamplin