About Us
What We Do and How It All Started
CTO Craft History
CTO Craft was launched by Andy Skipper, ex CTO at Comic Relief, and a number of other experienced CTOs, coaches, technology and engineering Leaders in 2017.
The aim was to provide coaching, mentoring and various services to first-time technology leaders, CTOs, tech and engineering team leads, and help them achieve their business and technology objectives.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission is to empower CTOs and other senior technology leaders to continuously learn, grow, and thrive in their careers.
Our Vision is to ensure that every senior tech leader has the resources and support they need to succeed.
Our background story
CTO Craft was founded in 2017 by Andy Skipper, the former CTO of Comic Relief and founding CTO of Made.com, which went public in 2021 with a valuation of £775 million.
It all started as a casual meet-up among a handful of interim CTOs, who would get together over coffee, tea (or perhaps a few beers) to talk about the challenges they faced in their roles. What began as informal conversations quickly became a much-needed outlet, offering a sense of community and relief from the daily stresses of the job. These gatherings eventually evolved into the first CTO Craft Mentoring Circle.
While mentoring other CTOs and helping them find fractional and advisory roles, Andy began to see the bigger picture. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, he realised the pressures CTOs faced were only going to intensify. Burnout, a concern rarely discussed in the industry, became a pressing issue he felt needed attention.
By then, the community had grown organically to over 1,600 members – a network built by CTOs, for CTOs. Recognising its potential, Andy decided to dedicate himself to running CTO Craft full-time.
Just a few months later, in November 2020, he organised the first online CTO Craft conference. The event drew over 1,200 paying attendees and was a massive success, cementing CTO Craft as an essential resource for technology leaders.
Today, CTO Craft provides a thriving community, resources, and services designed to support CTOs on every step of their journey.
Our leadership team
Andy Skipper
Founder, Chief Coach, Chairman and Director
Andy helps thousands of CTOs and Senior Technology and Engineering Leaders build skills, experience and resilience, to survive the pressures and demands of the most senior technology role in modern business, and provide real commercial impact within their organisations.
He founded CTO Craft in 2017, and has been helping both new and experienced CTOs by providing a safe space for learning and growth, among one of the largest peer networks of senior engineering leaders in the world.
Prior to coaching and mentoring new leaders, Andy held CTO roles at Made.com, Comic Relief, and interim roles at dozens of companies such as JustPark, Intu, Threads Styling, Living Maps, Spyscape, VONQ and The School of Life, and have advised and invested in several massively successful businesses in the UK, as well as many VC firms and accelerators.
Andy Hasoon
CEO, Director
Andy began as a Strategic Advisor, then Non Executive Director and in 2023 took on a more active executive role focused on building the commercial infrastructure of the company as CTO Craft grows.
Andy started running technology education in-house training courses back in 1994 for clients such as the Ministry Of Defence, Bloomberg, Barclaycard, and other blue chip brands. Then over the span of the last 30 years he has built, run, funded, advised, grown, and exited various media, technology and education businesses.
The scope of products ranged from; almost every kind of online and in person education learning event, from courses to conferences, seminars to serious games, assessments to films – all aimed at delivering and improving next generation education.
Andy has scaled and acquired education businesses in the UK, Europe, Middle East, North America and Asia. He has created partnerships with organisations such as BBC Worldwide, Pearson, Harvard Business School Publishing and numerous others delivering cutting edge learning solutions to serve individual, corporate, government, and NGO clients across the globe.
Andy has a degree in Bio Medical Material Science and Bio Medical Engineering – BSc Eng (Hons) degree. Today he lives in the glorious Somerset countryside.
Nick Bates
COO
Nick is COO of CTO Craft with responsibility for all operational aspects of the business and the execution of the companies strategic plan alongside the other members of the leadership team who report to Nick.
Nick joined CTO Craft in 2021 and has been instrumental in the growth of the business leading the recruitment of the senior team as the Community emerged from lockdown and the appetite for events in ‘real life’ grew alongside the renewed appetite for the C-suite to gain access to people experiencing similar challenges and find support that helped their development as well as that of their own companies.
An accomplished leader with a varied background in music and publishing before technology as part of the CTO Craft team, Nick has a varied background in commercial and operational aspects of business and has held senior roles in startups as well as large media businesses like HarperCollins. He has a positive, pragmatic and problem solving approach meaning he can be relied upon to take ownership and move things forward, always with a can-do attitude
Rachel Thomas
Head of Events
With over 10 years of experience in event planning, Rachel has organised more than 200 in-person events worldwide, as well as over 100 virtual conferences. Her career began with a focus on large-scale exhibitions before transitioning to planning exclusive conferences for C-suite attendees.
As the head of CTO Craft’s Events portfolio, Rachel spearheaded the launch of CTO Craft Con which has consistently sold out, rapidly establishing CTO Craft as a premier platform for technology and engineering leaders. These events have gained a reputation for fostering deep connections among industry peers in a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative environment.
Pip Curtis
Head of Sales
Pip is an accomplished entrepreneur and events specialist with a proven track record of creating and scaling successful, commercially driven events. As co-founder of RE•WORK, she built a leading events business known for its high-calibre speakers and cutting-edge content, focusing on Deep Learning and AI.
With a commitment to innovation and inclusivity, Pip has developed profitable event formats, from global summits to bespoke partner events. Her strategic initiatives – including video content, podcast sponsorships, and tailored partnerships—have driven significant growth for startups and her ventures.
Among her signature achievements are the creation of the Deep Learning Summit and the Women in AI Dinner Series, two landmark events hosted in tech hubs like San Francisco, New York, London, and Singapore. These platforms have not only advanced discussions on emerging technologies but also played a pivotal role in promoting diversity and gender equity within the tech industry.
Matt Hunt
Head of Marketing
With over a decade of experience, Matt brings deep expertise in leading data-driven marketing strategies to CTO Craft. As Head of Marketing, he’s focused on creating meaningful connections within the tech community.
Prior to CTO Craft, Matt led the charge on marketing for major data, analytics, and developer trade shows and exhibitions across Europe and North America, as well as more intimate, discussion-led events. He was instrumental in the launch of the Business of Data publication and The Business of Data Show – an exciting studio-based interview series that spotlighted top data leaders.
Matt’s mix of strategic thinking and hands-on ability has made him a go-to for digital marketing strategies that leave a lasting impact. His drive to create memorable experiences and deliver meaningful results is at the heart of everything he does.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORs
Emma Hopkinson-Spark
Many of you will already know Emma, as she has served as one of the Chairs for both our online and in-person conferences over the years and has facilitated several of our Mentoring Circles.
Originally a professional musician, Emma transitioned to software and data engineering in the early 2000s. She became deeply involved in the agile movement, eventually becoming a subject matter expert for the Scrum Alliance, where she authored professional standards and exams, and hosted the Global Scrum Gathering in London.
Emma is an award-winning coach, creator of the Agile RPG game, and an active speaker in the tech community. After playing a key role in growing tech consultancy 101 Ways to investment, she now serves as the Director of Business Change at Bromford Housing Group and is a Board Trustee for Vision North Somerset, applying her expertise to support social enterprises and non-profits.
Emma is also the Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Lee-Jon Ball
You’re likely also familiar with Lee-Jon, who has served as one of the Chairs for our online and in-person conferences over the years. Since January 2024, he has also been a Strategic Advisor, instrumental in shaping the growth strategy for CTO Craft.
With a PhD in nuclear magnetic resonance, he’s officially known as Dr. Lee-Jon Ball. A former academic and scientist, Lee-Jon’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to edit a lifestyle magazine and run two nightclubs in Manchester, the UK’s music hub. Nowadays, you can often find him rock climbing in his free time.
Lee-Jon has advised major companies like Expedia, AIG, Notonthehighstreet, and M&S on technology, innovation, and organizational design. He is passionate about helping people achieve exceptional results by fostering the right environment for success. In addition to working with large enterprises, he has mentored startups across various sectors, including healthcare, social impact, property, and e-commerce. He takes great satisfaction in helping others find simple solutions to their most challenging problems, often through the art of coding.
Lee-Jon is also the Chair of the Creative Committee.
Join the CTO Craft Community
CTO Craft connects technology leaders worldwide, from innovative startups to established global organisations, and welcomes professionals at all stages of their careers.
Become part of our vibrant community of over 15,000 CTOs and tech leaders. Enjoy exclusive access to valuable resources, including curated content, dedicated Slack channels, monthly Mentoring Circles, networking events, and much more.