Board of Directors

Chairman – Andrew Vickerman

Andrew Vickerman spent almost 20 years with Rio Tinto, one of the world’s leading mining companies, the last ten as Global head of communications and external relations. In this role he had responsibility for all aspects of corporate reputation and also played a leading role in developing industry-wide initiatives addressing reputation issues.

Previous roles in Rio Tinto included involvement in financing and developing a new gold mine in Papua New Guinea and addressing all aspects of reputation risk and opportunity involved in the project. Andrew has a PhD in economics from Cambridge University and has previous experience as a development economist, academic and economic advisor to government for the World Bank and other international agencies. Throughout his career he has been involved in shaping significant policy, investment and strategic decisions.

Andrew has long recognised that reputation risk requires serious understanding by companies and others and has been a leading advocate of the need for research and measurement to inform decision-making at the highest level.

Founder and CEO – Alberto Lopez-Valenzuela

Alberto brings a solid understanding of the industry coupled with the ability to lead successful, highly commercial teams. Alberto has spent the past 20 years working in the Media sector building strong relationships at CXO level and with FTSE executives. Prior to founding Alva, Alberto lived and worked in London for global media companies such as Cision and Datamonitor plc, where he held executive roles including Sales & Marketing Director and VP of Sales in Emerging Markets.

Alberto has a First Class BA Hons Media Management degree from the University of the Arts London and an MBA from Cass Business School.

CTO – Richard Fleming

Richard is a co-founder and CTO of Alva. Richard brings a broad experience of the technology industry and finance, along with a depth of technical expertise. Prior to joining Alva, Richard built the first global infrastructure team for Clifford Chance, one of the world’s leading law firms, where he achieved previously unknown levels of stability and reliability whilst delivering substantial cost efficiencies for the firm.

Prior to joining Clifford Chance, Richard was co-founder of a wireless technology company, taking the business from concept to profitable business. A published research author and qualified financial analyst, Richard has also spent several years in equity research, working mainly with listed technology companies in the UK on M&A, strategy review and financial forecasting.

Richard is an IT graduate and holds an MBA from Cass Business School.

Non-Executive Director – Alan Schofield

Alan has more than 15 year’s senior experience in policy and communications. He was previously director at the Bell Pottinger Group, leading on policy and media relations work for overseas governments as well as several UK-based multi-national companies.

He was special adviser and Press Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott from the formation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Alan has wide experience in Whitehall – beginning his career there as ‘Editor-in-Chief’ of the UK Online programme which put in place the foundations for ‘directgov’. He has also worked for the Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and at Number 10.

Previously, Alan was part of the successful management team that ran the third largest ISP portal, LineOne, before its purchase by ‘Tiscali’. He began his career as a journalist – principally working at the BBC as producer of the flagship political programme ‘Breakfast with Frost.’ He also wrote for The Express Group and the Sunday Times.

Non-Executive Director – Mark Rigby

Mark is currently Director of Corporate Affairs at Sainsbury’s PLC responsible for Media, Corporate Responsibility, Environment, Public Affairs, Ethical Trading and Community.

Mark’s business career has spanned 26 years, starting out in a number of Sales & Marketing roles in Bass PLC, before being appointed to the Board of Vratislavice Brewing Group, in 1995, based in Prague, where he was responsible for International Drinks Brands across Eastern Europe. He was appointed to the role of Director of Corporate Affairs in Bass PLC in 2000 from where he led the Global rebranding project of Bass PLC to Six Continents PLC with the subsequent dual listing of Six Continents PLC into Mitchells & Butlers PLC and InterContinental PLC in 2003. During his watch, he coordinated the InterContinental brand PR strategy following the acquisition of InterContinental Hotels Group by Bass PLC in 2001 and was the communications lead in the PLC defence against Hugh Osmonds’ hostile bid for the group in 2003. During his time at Bass and Six Continents he was responsible for the corporate reputation of the company’s brands globally.

Mark joined Hutchison Whampoa’s Telecommunications division in 2003 as Director of Corporate Affairs and headed the Media, and Community Affairs departments, including responsibility for the corporate reputation of the ‘3’ video mobile brand. He was appointed Vice President of Communication for Time Warner’s Online Division AOL, in 2007, where he was responsible for all European digital communication activities.