Corporate information

Board of Directors

Ben Heald – CEO

Ben was appointed CEO in September 2002.  He was one of the founders of Sift in 1996 and is the company's largest shareholder.

Steven Priscott – Finance Director

Steven joined Sift in 1999 and was appointed Finance Director in 2004. 

Peter Phippen – Non-Executive Chairman

Following a philosophy and psychology degree at Cambridge, Peter began his career with IPC. In the late ‘80s Peter was asked to join BBC Worldwide to develop its magazine business. Initially as Publishing Director, and then as Managing Director, Peter developed new lifestyle and specialist magazines, growing the business from one to a portfolio of more than 50 magazines. BBC Magazines became one of the UK’s most successful consumer magazine publishers, with printed magazines, websites and apps, operating from two locations in the UK and with licences or joint ventures in 60 countries around the world.

During this time Peter led the development of some of the BBC’s most successful commercial brands such as Top Gear and Good Food, launching outstanding web sites, such as top gear.com and goodfood.com. Peter recently led the sale of BBC Magazines to Exponent PE; and is now the Deputy Chairman of Immediate Media.

He is an experienced Chairman having been non-exec Chairman of the distribution company Frontline Ltd, Chairman of the PPA, Chairman of BBC Haymarket Exhibitions and Chairman of joint-ventures in the US, Australia and India.

In October ’11 Peter received the ‘Marcus Morris Award’, the highest accolade in magazine publishing.

Will Fraser-Allen – Non-Executive Director, Albion Ventures

Will is the Deputy Managing Partner of Albion Ventures LLP – a leading independent venture capital investor, managing approximately £230 million across eight Venture Capital Trusts.  Will qualified as a chartered accountant with Cooper Lancaster Brewers in 1996 and then joined their corporate finance team providing corporate finance advice to small and medium sized businesses. He joined Albion Ventures (then Close Ventures) in 2001 since when he has focused on leisure, media and healthcare investing. Will became deputy managing director of Close Ventures in 2007 and deputy managing partner of Albion Ventures in 2009. Some of Will’s current and former investments include Peakdale Molecular, Active Hotels, the Bold Pub Company and Lowcosttravel group. Will holds a BA in History from Southampton University.

Company details

Registered Number – No: 3230061

Registered Office
Bridge House
48-52 Baldwin Street
Bristol
BS1 1QB

Auditors
Bishop Fleming
Lawrence House
Lower Bristol Road
Bath

Lawyers
Roxburgh Milkins
Merchants House North
Wapping Road
Bristol

Bankers
Barclays
Bristol

Ownership
Sift is a private company – its principal shareholders being Ben Heald and Kings Arms Yard VCT.