Our next BLN CEO Tales networking drinks event will be held in London on 3rd December from 18.00 – 21.00.

BLN CEO Tales networking drinks are an opportunity for an ever growing community of quality venture- and private equity-backed entrepreneurs, VCs, PE investors and corporates to connect and share experiences with their peers.

The theme for the three short talks from Ben Drury (7Digital), Kieron Smith (The Book Depository) and Jay Bregman (eCourier) will address the question, “Why has the recession been good for us?” These companies are 5 years old on average and now have combined revenue of over £70 million.

Featured speakers:

Keiron Smith, The Book Depository

Kieron Smith, The Book Depository: The UK’s largest dedicated online bookseller was founded in 2004. They focus on selling ‘less of more’ rather than ‘more of less’, differentiating itself from other retailers who increasingly focus on bestsellers. Now the world’s fastest growing bookseller, The Book Depository saw the last 12 months’ sales topping £62m, dispatching over 100,000 parcels a week worldwide. Kieron has worked in the book trade for over twelve years at WHSmith, setting up Ottakars.co.uk in 1999, heading up the web offering at BCA and operations at Methven’s, Head of Online operations at Waterstones.com and then as Managing Director of innovative start-up BookRabbit. He was Head of Online at GAME.co.uk. He joined The Book Depository as MD in July 2008.

Jay Bregman, ecourier

Jay Bregman, eCourier: is a technology-enabled service provider with the purple vans. eCourier solves a fundamental problem in the same day delivery market that hasn’t changed much since the 1970s – humans issuing work to couriers via radio provides low efficiency, high overheads, and diseconomies of scale. Jay turned a personal frustration with same day couriers into a £6m business in four years, recently ranked 6 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 rankings of the fastest-growing and most innovative technology companies in the country. Prior to eCourier, Jay worked at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. In 2009 Jay was named an ‘Enterprising Young Brit’ by Make Your Mark, despite hailing from New York City.

Ben Drury, 7Digital

Ben Drury, 7Digital:taps into demand for digital media, 7digital operates services that bring together suppliers and consumers of digital media. 7digital was backed by Balderton Capital and Sutton Place, the investment vehicle of Mark Getty and HMV took a 50% stake in 7 digital in September 2009. 7digital.com was the first company in Europe to launch DRM-free MP3 downloads with all four major record labels. Ben began his career as a founder of dotmusic.com andmoved to become Head of Music at BT, where Ben launched a major music channel and led the acquisition of his old company in 2002. Ben founded 7digital with James Kane in 2004 to create a digital media marketplace. 7digital featured in the Deloitte Fast 50 technology companies in October 2009. Ben is also the Deputy Chairman and Director of the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) and is a board director the Official UK Charts Company.

BLN events offer investors, corporate execs, CEOs and founders of high growth businesses the chance to meet other smart, busy people to share ideas, challenges, meet investors, customers and partners. This BLN discussion and drinks networking event will be held at the new law offices of Taylor Wessing, which enjoy some of the best views of the Thames in the City.

Networking and drinks from 18.00, CEO Tales at 18.30.

Attendance is strictly limited to qualified individuals – founders/CEOs of venture backed businesses, active angel investors, venture capital, private equity professionals, corporate executives empowered to work with high growth businesses, selected advisers and invited guests.

BLN events are run across the UK with further events in Cambridge, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Bristol this year. See www.thebln.com/events for more details.

To register as a BLN member or non-member, please click here: REGISTER

This event is supported by:

Taylor Wessing