Andrew Yuille, DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Chair

Andrew is a marketing and business development professional with a career spanning 25+ years. He has worked across a spectrum of global, mid-market and early stage B2B organisations, across technology, information services and financial services including Hertz, Sage plc and Tetra plc. He is currently Vice President – Partnerships & Alliances for Thomson Reuters; earlier roles at Thomson Reuters included several marketing leadership roles, head of risk business solutions and most recently head of the online compliance training business.

He is a regular public speaker at events across the globe on topics spanning governance, risk and compliance as well as RegTech.
He was elected Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2001 and holds an MSc in Marketing with Distinction from the University of South Wales.

Andrew is a trustee and governor of Herries Educational Trust, a charity supporting the education of pupils at Herries School in Cookham, Berkshire.

Michael Lynch BA Hons DipM FCIM MSc CMRS Chartered Marketer

Vice Chair

Non-Executive Director, elected to CIM Board in 2021. Chair of the CIM Constitution & Ethics Committee and member of the CIM Strategy & Finance Committee. Michael is currently on secondment from NS&I as Deputy Director, Marketing and Communications at UK Export Finance. Prior to this, he was NS&I’s Head of Consumer Business Strategy & Strategic Marketing. Previously on secondment from NS&I he helped create the British Business Bank as Acting Director of Marketing, Communications and Brand. Before NS&I Michael held senior demand development, marketing and sales director roles with major financial services businesses specialising in investments.

A DipM qualified Chartered Marketer and CIM Fellow, Michael has twelve years experience lecturing for CIM courses including Strategy and Digital Strategy, Innovation and Communications. Michael has been a CIM examiner and is a current CIM mentor. Michael is also a mentor for the Government Communication Service (GCS), the professional body for government communicators.

Michael attained an MSc in Strategic Marketing from Cranfield School of Management and has been on the Marketing and Sales Practice Advisory Board there since 2016.

A Route Panel member for marketing apprenticeships and T Levels with the Institute for Apprenticeships, Michael has chaired and been a member of marketing apprenticeship trailblazer groups and is a member of the national Green Apprenticeships advisory community.

Michael is also a non-executive director with London Mutual Credit Union, London’s largest community bank, a member of the Market Research Society and CFA UK and an active member of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, the City livery company for marketing professionals.

Dr Ruchitha Perera DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Vice Chair

I hold Fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Chartered Management Institute, the Institute of Sales Management, and the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. Additionally, I have professional memberships in the American Marketing Association and the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.

In addition to my marketing qualifications, I hold an MBA in International Business and a Doctorate in Marketing Management, with comprehensive research in the technology, international development, and education sectors.

As a Chartered Marketer, I undertake multifaceted roles as a chief executive, business consultant, coach, and trainer, focusing on business strategy, public relations, and innovation. I also promote training approaches centered on leadership, business growth, and change management.

I continually share my wealth of knowledge with communities, drawing from over 25 years of corporate leadership, marketing, consulting, and training experience in both the public and private sectors. My passion for business innovation is evident in my work, where I have led several global technology brands.

I believe in developing and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. I mentor young leaders and am a respected lecturer in marketing innovation, digital marketing, and branding qualifications, as well as international master’s degree and doctoral programs.

I provide business coaching and training in niche areas such as sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and enhancing value creation for future-focused organisations.

Currently, I serve as the Executive Director at the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Gina Balarin, MEd BA (Hons) DipM FAMI CPM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Gina Balarin is a TEDx speaker, author of The Secret Army: Leadership, Marketing and the Power of People and the Founder of Verballistics, a consultancy dedicated to helping leaders find their voice and use it effectively.

With a marketing career spanning 20+ years in the education, software, engineering and non-profit sectors, she cares passionately about enabling leaders and their teams to get messages across that inspire action and support change.

Gina has a Masters Degree in Education in the subject of Management Communication awarded with Distinction, a BA in Drama and Linguistics, a BA (Hons) in Linguistics and English Language and a Professional Diploma in Marketing. She was awarded Chartered Marketer status in 2010, became a full Member of the Professional Speakers’ Association in 2018, and was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and a Certified Practicing Marketer in 2022.

Based near Brisbane, Australia, her work has won critical acclaim in South Africa, the United Kingdom and her home country. She regularly appears on podcasts and at events discussing marketing, communication, leadership and authenticity. She is a communication and presentation skills coach to senior leaders, an award judge, and a mentor.

She also serves on the Board of Project Displaced, an Australian non-profit organisation dedicated to helping people gain the confidence and skills to find new jobs.

William Burton DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Experienced Chief Executive and Global Sales & Marketing Director from the travel & hotel and education & training sectors. Also a NAO-trained Government Accounting Officer.  Particular skills in Corporate Strategy, Risk, Governance, Compliance and all aspects of Sales & Marketing. Previous NED experience at Martin Randall Travel; Chair at Highlife Breaks Ltd; Council Member of ABTA, Federation of Tour Operators and VisitBritain; former Senate member for the University of London. Chartered Marketer and Fellow of CIM; Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors; Chartered Mechanical Engineer; and holder of an MBA with distinction from INSEAD Global Business School.

Penny Eccles, MBA BSc (Hons) DipM FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Penny holds an MBA with distinction, a first class BSc (Hons) in Marketing and is a DipM qualified Chartered Marketer and CIM Fellow.

Penny spent her career in Higher Education marketing roles for 20+ years at several UK universities before establishing her strategic marketing consultancy business in 2019. Penny and her team work with universities and HE-related clients to grow their profile and student intake. Prior to this she worked in a board-level position at Nottingham Trent University as Director of Marketing and Communications.

She is a keynote speaker and was a HEIST Awards panel chair and judge (2019 – 2021). She is also a regular speaker for the AdvanceHE Aurora Leadership programme for women.

Dr Leeya Hendricks PhD MBA BA (Hons) BA MBCS FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Dr Leeya Hendricks, a non-executive Director elected to the CIM Board of Directors in December 2023, a chartered marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Leeya is MD at Hark Consultants, offering strategic advisory in marketing, technology ecosystem development, sustainability, and social impact. As a seasoned CMO, she has led global marketing and communications across technology, fintech and professional services, for companies like Oracle, IBM, Accenture, Delta Capita, Prytek, Kurtosys, in EMEA, JAPAC, and the US.

Her qualifications include a PhD in Management (B2B platform ecosystems and value creation), an MBA (customer centricity in global IT), BA (Hons) in Brand Marketing Management, BA (Hons) in Fine Art, and certifications from Cambridge University in Business Sustainability Management and the Ethical Build of AI from the Chartered Institute of IT, where she is a member (MBCS).

Leeya is committed to education and shaping the future of marketing. She serves on The Fintech Marketing Hub board, lectures at universities in the UK and Europe, and is a Board Trustee of Rise Up, focusing on social development and uplifting marginalised youth.

She brings a keen eye for driving innovative marketing capabilities that contribute to the strategic growth of CIM and the broader marketing industry.

Paul Mackman FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Paul, co-owner of a consultancy group specialising in branding, marketing, market research, and human resources, leverages over 25 years of board experience, notably serving 12 years on the CIM East Regional Board. His efforts have played a pivotal role in driving organisational, governance, and cultural transformations at both regional and national levels within the Institute.

Committed to inclusivity, Paul chairs a prominent Suffolk charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and individuals with dementia. A CIM member since 1997, he attained Chartered status in 2012, later becoming a Fellow in 2014. His collaborative approach extends across the CIM network, with his company recognised as the world's first CIM Company Affiliate, receiving a CIM Marketing Excellence Award and holding B-Corp certification.

Motivated to shape a secure future for the CIM, Paul joined the Board of Directors to contribute to financial sustainability, promote sound governance, and advocate for respected industry representation. As an entrepreneurial leader with a diverse background in commercial and not-for-profit roles, Paul is also affiliated with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and previously the Association of Chairs.

Niall Parfitt FCIM Chartered Marketer

Non-Executive Director

Niall holds an MSc in Organisation and Management and a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and Management. He is a Chartered Marketer and CIM Fellow. Niall has over 25 years of experience working with large organisations and SMEs. He owns Altanticus Digital, a CRM and marketing agency based in Northern Ireland that works with organisations worldwide.

In addition, Niall is a board member for the Halifax Foundation of Northern Ireland, which is funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group. The foundation invests in local charities, empowering communities in the greatest need to flourish. He is also a board member of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust, a charity that supports families of children and young people with heart disease in Northern Ireland. Niall is also a volunteer for the Federation of Small Business, the UK’s leading small business organisation.