Board & Executive
The ODA Board consists of five individuals from the online dating industry along with the Chief Executive.
Duncan Cunningham – Chairman
Duncan Cunningham was elected Chairman of the Online Dating Association in August 2013.
Duncan has been a director of The Dating Lab since 2007, providing various media partners such as The Daily Telegraph, The Times and The Sunday Times with online dating sites. Before that he worked for its parent company, Telecom Express in a variety of operational and commercial roles. He has been involved in the provision of dating services to the UK media for over 20 years.
Jackie Elton – Director
Jackie Elton was appointed as a Director and Deputy Chairman of the Online Dating Association in August 2013.Jackie Elton founded Widernet Communications Ltd in 1999 and launched its main brand Christian Connection in 2000. It now operates in the UK and Australia and is the leading dating site for the Christian niche in those countries. Prior to that, she had senior roles in major power and transport infrastructure development projects in the UK. She has also developed other internet enterprises and is a
Dan Winchester – Director
Dan Winchester was appointed Director of the Online Dating Association in August 2013.
Dan is the founder of FreeDating.co.uk, a free UK dating site established in 2005. He is involved in all aspects of the day-to-day running of an online dating site. Dan is especially interested in both the free dating business model, and in eradicating dating scammers from online dating sites. Prior to FreeDating.co.uk, Dan founded HousePrices.co.uk which he sold to Zoopla in 2010. When he is not working, Dan can often be found running or cycling in the South Oxfordshire countryside.
Romain Bertrand – Director
Romain Bertrand was co-opted as a Director of the Online Dating Association in March 2015. Romain heads up eHarmony’s UK territory delivering the marketing strategy across all channels namely TV, digital marketing, PR, content and social plus partnerships and online acquisitions.
Prior to eHarmony, Romain was Head of Marketing at JustGiving, which followed previous senior marketing roles at Photobox, Skype and Amazon.com and L’Oreal. Romain is also a mentor at Seedcamp.
Abbie Oguntade – Director
Abbie Oguntade was co-opted as a Director of the Online Dating Association in February 2017.
As VP Northern Europe - Abbie heads up Match’s business operation activities encompassing strategy, brand, acquisition, legal, customer care and finance.
Prior to Match, Abbie was the Global marketing director for consumer electronics brand HTC, having held senior roles previously at Sonos, Philips and adidas amongst others.
Executive
Andrew McClelland - Chief Executive
Andrew McClelland has been involved in digital commerce for over 14 years and having held senior roles at e-Retail trade body IMRG, has a unique insight into the development of digital enabled commerce, changing consumer trends and the challenges that incorporating a digital offering into a more traditional proposition presents. He now runs his own consultancy, Mirador Digital, to work with clients to develop and deliver strategic planning and review for digital channels, provide digital insight to private and public sector organisations.
Ann Austin - Secretary
Ann Austin was appointed Secretary of the Online Dating Association in August 2013.
Ann has over 20 years’ experience working in regulatory and not-for-profit organisations, and spent a number of years with the premium rate self-regulatory body PhonepayPlus as Finance Officer and Company Secretary. Currently she acts as Secretary to the UK Public Affairs Council, and provides secretarial services to the regulatory committees at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.