Now an entrepreneur and investor in innovative tech start-ups, Cobley will bring his experience in building and leading fin tech businesses, as well as 8 years’ experience at Google, to the board of data management and bureau service, Fabacus.
Founded by successful serial entrepreneur, Andrew Xeni, Fabacus is the developer of proprietary data management software platform, Xelacore. Some of its blue-chip clients include Epic Games, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Skydance Animation, Ubisoft Entertainment, Fanatics and Activision Blizzard.
Following the appointments of licensing industry veteran Rosalind Nowicki, former Head of Global Consumer Products and Franchise Marketing for Mattel, as well as seasoned retail executive, Richard Price, MD of Clothing Home and Beauty at Marks & Spencer to the Fabacus board earlier this year; Cobley joins at an exciting and pivotal phase in the business’ growth.
Speaking on his appointment, Cobley said, “I regularly speak on the disruptive power of fintech technology and innovation, and having known Andrew for some time and having seen what Fabacus is doing across licensing, retail and manufacturing, I believe it is a true representation of that and testament to what can be done to revolutionise an industry. I am also excited about the role Fabacus can play in protecting consumers from counterfeit products and helping brand owners better understand and manage their total environmental impact. The role that Fabacus is assuming in the industry to collect and provide validated, structured data, will aid all parties in the value chain, connecting everyone from IP owners to marketplaces to consumers. I am thrilled to be joining such a strong board and management team, using my experience to provide direction, opportunity and open new avenues of growth with a clear strategic trajectory.”
Fabacus Founder & CEO, Andrew Xeni, added, “Not only does Dan appreciate and understand the need of what we are building here at Fabacus by advancing current industry practices, he also brings with him vast experience and knowledge in building technology businesses. Our board is now a stellar line up with some of the most authoritative voices from licensing, retail, and marketplace technology to truly complement our business trajectory. In a new age of regulation and stricter data requirements, I am hugely excited at the role Fabacus and our Xelacore technology will play in underpinning this industry evolution, from compliant product datasets through to validated and verifiable Digital Product Passports.”
About Fabacus
Fabacus was founded by successful serial entrepreneur, Andrew Xeni, who has a significant background in retail, including deep supply chain experience. The company is backed by other high-profile investors, including Tom Singh OBE (founder of 440-store chain New Look), Seneca Partners, Inovia (led by Patrick Pichette, former CFO of Google) and Mitch Foreman (former CFO of Disney EMEA Consumer Products), as well as Wealth Club. Andrew Xeni is also the founder of award-winning eco-conscious fashion brand, Nobody’s Child, of which Marks and Spencer is a strategic minority investor and shareholder, as well as founder of tech business, Soreto, servicing global clients such as H&M brands, Nike, Under Armour, Samsung, Puma and many others.
About Dan Cobley
Dan is an entrepreneur and investor in innovative tech startup businesses, focusing on financial services. Until recently he led the fintech portfolio for Blenheim Chalcot, a long-established London venture builder, where he co-founded companies including Salary Finance, Koodoo Mortgages and ClearScore. He now invests in and advises a number of high growth startups, mostly in fintech, and is a non-exec at Admiral.
Until late 2014, Dan spent over 8 years at Google. For the last three years he was Managing Director, UK & Ireland – the biggest market for Google outside the US and at the time, the most advanced major country in terms of e-commerce and online advertising spending. Dan was promoted to the UK MD role after five years in Google marketing, first as Marketing Director, UK, Ireland and Benelux and then as VP Marketing, EMEA.
Previously, Dan was VP of Brand and Marketing for Capital One Europe, Marketing Director for Ask Jeeves, and Marketing Director at Pepsi/Walkers.
Dan is a regular keynote speaker at conferences; speaking on the disruptive power of fintech, technology, innovation, and Google’s unique approach to business. He is also an accomplished moderator, interviewer and after-dinner speaker. Dan has shared his thoughts on Physics and Marketing at the TED conference and with over 1.8 million people online. He was named as number 3 in Wired UK top 100 list 2012 and among the Maserati 100 Innovators of the Year in 2018. He appeared on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World as a technology commentator and helped Alan Sugar choose his 2014 Apprentice.
He has a first degree in physics from Oxford and a master’s in management from Cambridge. Outside of work, Dan enjoys sporting challenges, fixing things and the occasional adventure holiday.
