About Us

About Us

• INBG - Key People

INBG - Key People

Bill Colbourne - CEO

Bill is a founder and CEO of The Intelligent New Business Group, comprising: Rainmaker, Blossom and Pearlfinders - the three most successful companies in their fields. He holds a degree in history and latin from Leicester University and has a former career as a published songwriter, which generated a number of interesting experiences, including a top 10 hit. In his spare time he paints in oils and enjoys running too.

Denese Colbourne - Group Commercial Director

Denese is a founder and the Commercial & Financial Director of INBG. She has a successful track record for conceiving and launching corporate innovations in the new business services space. Over the last 14 years she has advised the principals of over 500 different marketing agencies on best practice new business programmes. She studied Egyptology at University of London, is a serious cook and likes to relax with a good glass of Gigondas. She and Bill have two daughters, Eva and Maya.

Gareth Dixon - Senior Account & Planning Director

Gareth was a new business developer at Saatchi & Saatchi, responsible for winning multi-million pound  accounts, before teaming up with Bill and Denese to co-found INBG. As planning director he has helped a large number of marketing agencies to find their most effective voice, especially when reaching out to fresh prospects. He likes sailing and is the proud father of Kezia, Ted and Rory.

Anthony Cooper - Managing Director Pearlfinders

Formerly at Hoovers and Dun & Bradstreet, Anthony has an exemplary record in selling and marketing business information products. A keen sportsman, he brings experience and style to the company's 6 a-side football team while also boasting 2 completed marathons to date.

Charlotte Fletcher - New Business Director

In addition to being New Business Director of Rainmaker, Oxford grad Charlie Fletcher, has also planned and directed new business activity for a string of high profile agency accounts in the UK and Europe. Multi-lingual, she lived and worked in Germany prior to joining the team. She and Felix have a baby boy, Oscar.

Geraint Jones - Head of New Business

Formerly New Business Director at customer insight consultancy 5one, Geraint joins Rainmaker with extensive business development and client services experience in marketing and management consultancies. He has led significant new business wins with BP, Marks & Spencer, Ocado, Unilever and Red Bull among others. He has special expertise in retail & FMCG businesses having pitched successfully for new accounts across Europe and in the US. Previous roles involved consultancy on retail and customer insights, helping create better retail strategies for Danone Waters, Mars, Castrol and others. He has a Masters in Modern History from Oxford University and in his free time is a keen cricketer, a mountain biker whose ambition often outweighs his ability, and a longsuffering Middlesbrough FC fan.

James Cudd - Director Blossom

James heads up the new business talent and training firm Blossom. Prior to joining INBG, he had 6 years' experience in business development with iCandy (design), RPM (experiential marketing) and Getty Images. He also has experience consulting with clients in the US. His time with Getty provided experience across multiple sectors and with clients such as Canon, Topman, Oakley, RBS, HSBC and HELLO! James is fully up to speed with latest marketing technology and has a passion for photography, sport and psychology.

James Porteous-Butler - Account Director

James is an experienced account director at Rainmaker. Prior to this he excelled in various sales roles across the property, automotive and business information sectors. Since joining Rainmaker he has been central to the success of clients across all marketing disciplines - providing opportunites that have converted to wins with the likes of BT, Virgin, Electronic Arts and HSBC. His interests include film, music, cricket and he sees himself as a dab hand in the kitchen. 

Jennifer Cross - Account Director

Prior to joining Rainmaker, Jennifer was head of European business development for the global youth media company VICE. In addition to growing new business, she was instrumental in setting up VICE's creative agency, Virtue Worldwide, and online TV network, VBS.tv in Europe. During this time she worked on the strategy and implementation of both on and off-line campaigns for the likes of Nokia, Volvo, Microsoft and Lee Jeans, amongst others. Before VICE Jennifer was co-founder and publisher of BCN WEEK - Spain's first tri-lingual cultural weekly publication and website. Prior to this she was Sales Director for Universum (formerly Jungle Media Group) in New York. She is interested in history and evolutionary biology, and grew up on Cape Cod (MA) so loves the ocean.

David Gray - Sales & Training Director

Rainmaker Consulting wrote the book on proactive new business best practice. This has over the last decade not only changed the way things are done in the market, but also influenced a large number of competitors in the UK and internationally. David ensures best practice training applies across the Intelligent New Business Group and assists Blossom trainees to learn everything they need to know to succeed. He studied marketing at Coventry University, but started off business life in sales - firstly in retail with The Carphone Warehouse then gaining B2B experience in recruitment. He has a passion for sports and is a keen historian with a library ranging from the Celts to Obama.

Mike Thorne - Product Director Pearlfinders

Mike has played an essential role within the Pearlfinders research and analyst team since 2006. In his current position he is responsible for the creation, editorial and delivery of Pearlfinders' portfolio of products and services. He also spearheads new product development. Mike studied Business and Law at Warwick University and is a handy tennis player.