Our Management Team
Niklas Eklund
Chief Executive Officer
Niklas joined Livebookings as CEO in 2006. With over 15 years of experience, he is a seasoned internet services and software entrepreneur. After building many successful online businesses serving the US and European markets, Niklas met owners of Loghos Logical Hospitality Systems which lead to the development of the business plan for Livebookings.
Niklas studied Computer Science at Chalmers Technical University, Gothenburg and Business Administration at Lund University, Sweden and has received several accolades rewarding his inspirational leadership including IT Entrepreneur of the Year in Sweden.
His favourite restaurants include Inamo in London, Cafe Tu Tu Tango in Orlando and Teatergrillen in Stockholm. Niklas spent a short time in the restaurant industry early in his career, working as a Bouncer at his wife’s restaurant in Tylösand, Sweden.
David Norris
Chief Operating Officer
David joined Livebookings in November 2007. Prior to working at Livebookings, he held positions of Website and Ecommerce Operations Director at Expedia, Head of Overseas Operations at Simply Travel and Head of UK Sites at lastminute.com in charge of websites including holidayautos.co.uk, onlinetravel.com and deckchair.com.
In his past, David has experienced the hospitality industry first hand during numerous restaurant and bar positions and six ski seasons spent in France. He is a former competitive cyclist, a keen blogger and considers Sturehof in Stockholm, Munchie in Chamonix and The Wolseley in London as some of his favourite restaurants.
Christopher Persson
Co-Founder and Sales Executive Officer
Christopher joined Livebookings in February 2006 after the company he founded, Loghos (Loghos Logical Hospitality Systems), merged with Livebookings. Prior to Livebokings, Christopher held positions including General Manager of business simulation company BTS Group and Sales and Marketing Director for French online health and wellbeing provider Vielife. He has a soft spot for the English pub tradition and after graduating from Jefferson College, St Louis and Stockholm University, held various positions in the industry.
After moving to London Christopher was fortunate to run his own pub for a few years - the Phene Arms in Chelsea, London. His favourite restaurants include the Spotted Pig in New York, East in Hamburg, Pappa & Ciccia in Fulham and Bistro Ruby in Stockholm.
Robert Swerling
Chief Commercial Officer
Robert joined Livebookings in April 2010, having previously held the position of New Business Development Principal for Google EMEA. Prior to that, he was Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Credit Market Analysis Limited (now part of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) which has become the leading provider of intra-day credit derivative data systems and services to the financial markets.
Robert began his career as a commercial barrister with Maitland Chambers in Lincoln's Inn, where he practiced for four years and his favourite restaurants include L'Absinthe in Primrose Hill, London and Roland Pierroz in Verbier, Switzerland.
Sue Ball
Chief Financial Officer
Sue joined Livebookings in April 2010. Formerly Chief Financial Officer of Unibet Group, she is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience in corporate finance in both the listed and private sector. Sue has served as Chief Financial Officer with companies such as Premier Brands, Burnden Leisure and the Unibet Group. She has overseen the rapid growth of several businesses including leading European online gambling company, Unibet Group, where she helped to secure a listing at a valuation of £65m and growth to a market capitalisation of £500m.
Sue considers Orrery and Randall & Aubin in London and a secret underground restaurant in Barcelona among her favourite restaurants.
Matthew Aubrey-Batchelor
Chief Technical Officer
Matthew joined Livebookings in March 2010. Previously Chief Technology Officer at Breakingviews (a subscription service offering comment to businesses on news stories, now owned by Thomson Reuters), Matthew has vast experience in running large scale websites and was a key figure in developing the software that Breakingviews currently boasts. His remit at Livebookings is to manage Livebookings’ software-as-service (SaaS) platform, future technology projects and to ensure restaurant clients continue to be provided with fast and dependable booking services.
Andris Berzins
Chief Marketing Officer
Andris joined Livebookings in November 2009. An experienced executive in the fields of business development, strategy, sales, marketing and product development, he has a track record of leading growth and development of high-tech and software businesses in the US, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to working at Livebookings, Andris held the position of Vice President & Managing Director, EMEA at Aeroscout Inc in the Silicon Valley.
Before attending City University, London and the University of Stanford, California, Andris spent a brief spell in the hospitality industry as a bar tender and classes Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia and Verandan in Stockholm as his favourite restaurants.
Benjamin Smith
Finance Director
Benjamin joined Livebookings in 2007. His previous roles include Financial Accountant at Vans Services Ltd, where he managed financial reporting for Vans footwear in all their European markets and Senior Financial Analyst for Office Holdings Ltd, where he was instrumental in providing and researching key data to facilitate a three-fold increase in outlets across the UK and Ireland.
Benjamin graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in music but swiftly realised he was more suited to a career in finance. He is a huge foodie, eating out at London’s best restaurants at least twice a week and considers Boxwood Café, Tom Aikens and in Arbutus in London and Tao in New York City among his favourites.
Olivia FitzGerald
Country Manager, UK & Ireland
Olivia joined Livebookings in January 2004. As one of the first Livebookings employees, she has worked her way up from Sales Executive to General Manager for the UK and Ireland. Prior to Livebookings, Olivia worked for PR and graphic design agencies, ‘did the book’ at London restaurants Quaglino’s and Vong (now Boxwood Café) and was part of the team that opened the first Bank restaurant on Aldwych, where she encountered Livebookings in its first incarnation.
Olivia studied at Goldsmith’s College, London and the Royal College of Art, London and considers Pied a Terre and the Wolesley among her favourite restaurants.