Sheffield Digital, the nonprofit group supporting the city’s tech sector, has named two new directors as co-founder Mel Kanarek steps down after over a decade leading the organization. The appointments were announced at the group’s Autumn Senior Leaders Dinner, marking a shift in leadership as artificial intelligence increasingly influences how local businesses develop.
James Charlesworth, a product engineering leader at Pendo and Sheffield office site lead, joins the board with experience in engineering, technical leadership, and AI. He also organizes Sheffield AI, a local tech community, and has been an individual member of Sheffield Digital for more than six years. Charlesworth said his focus will be on helping tech companies grow while strengthening grassroots networks in the city.
Rachel Ovens, head of marketing at training provider Whyy? Change, brings expertise in digital marketing, SEO, and professional development. She has already contributed to Sheffield Digital’s mentoring programs and events. Ovens emphasized her commitment to sustainable growth, aiming to create more opportunities for Sheffield’s broader tech ecosystem.
Read Also: ITV slashes costs as ad slump deepens before Sky deal
Kanarek, who helped establish Sheffield Digital in 2015, was instrumental in creating the UK Tech Cluster Group, a national network for regional tech organizations. She also led Sheffield’s first Digital Festival, which ran annually for four years, including hybrid formats during the pandemic. In her departure, she encouraged the group to remain responsive to its community’s evolving needs.
Beyond leadership changes, Sheffield Digital has formed a new partnership with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and welcomed Anthology North as an associate sponsor. The organization is also collaborating with the University of Sheffield to study how small and medium-sized businesses are adapting to AI. Unlike many similar groups, Sheffield Digital operates without public funding, relying instead on membership fees to support its freelance team and volunteer board.
The group currently represents over 80 company members and 100 individual members, alongside a network of ecosystem partners. Its services include mentoring, a jobs board, a regional tech events calendar, marketing support, networking opportunities, and a Slack community with more than 2,000 members. The expanded leadership team now faces the challenge of maintaining momentum in a sector where AI is rapidly altering business models.
Leave a Reply