Our People
We now employ over 100 experienced, highly skilled individuals who are passionate about what they do and who are committed to delivering excellence for our clients.
First Protocol Operational Directors
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Mark Riches
Title: Managing Director UK (Board Director)
Office: London based, but regularly in New York
Role: As architect of the operational infrastructure at First Protocol, Mark has a regard for performance across the business delivering excellence to our clients. In addition to running FP's London office, Mark works closely with Maureen in New York to bring cost effective operational performance for the business as a whole and deliver a seamless and integrated service offering to our clients wherever they are based. Mark works with our clients to bring forward fit for purpose event marketing solutions, drawing upon his extensive events experience and global destination knowledge to deliver success and value for our clients.
Bio: Mark's early background is in hotel and venue management and by the age of 25 he had opened three hotels in Australasia. Following this he returned to London to open Spencer House and then launch a successful hospitality recruitment company. He is a naturally inclusive leader who communicates easily and builds long-term rapports and respect with his peers, clients and stakeholders alike. A Business Tourism Champion for Visit London and a member of the Mayor of London's Customer Advisory Board, Mark is also a Mentor for the London Development Agency's Mentoring and Master Classes programme.
Away from FP: In his early 40s, Mark lives in deepest South London with his wife Sue and a Chocolate Labrador called Charlie Brown. During his free time he chases his passion for food and wine.
Key Clients: Mark works with all of First Protocol's clients from the London office.
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Maureen Ryan-Fable
Title: President and COO USA (Board Director)
Office: New York but regularly in London
Role: Maureen heads the operations of First Protocol's US office and as a board member contributes to the development of the company's long term business plan. She is dedicated to delivering excellence to clients and leading a team of dedicated individuals recruited for their unique qualities and outstanding talent. On a day to day basis Maureen brings creative leadership and senior project management expertise to the strategic implementation of client initiatives.
Bio: Maureen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a BA in Communications before starting her career at KSA (a music industry publicist), followed by six years at Billboard Magazine where she rose to the position of Special Events Director. Maureen's next career move was to the New York Stock Exchange heading a team of 14 people and overseeing over 500 events a year. After leaving the corporate world in 2000, Maureen started Ryan Fable Productions, a small event management agency. In 2002, following an introduction from a mutual client, Ryan Fable Productions and First Protocol merged forces and as they say the rest is history.
Away from FP: Maureen lives in New York City with her husband Paul, son Jordan and daughter Sydney Jae. They are also as a family proud to be part of a renowned family-owned Greek Bakery which has operated in Hell's Kitchen for over 85 years, which ensures the New York office is never short on delicious treats!
Key Clients: Riverstone, Jackson Hewitt, Merrill Lynch
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Edward Stanger
Title: Director (Board Director)
Office: London & New York
Role: Ed works with clients to establish, track and measure the desired outputs from live event activities. Ed is also responsible for the delivery of all strategic and advisory projects FP delivers across the company. These consulting assignments include auditing the effectiveness and strategic rationale of existing or planned event marketing activities, business case preparation on behalf of clients, evaluating the relative merits of assorted sponsorship assets, restructuring departments within client organisations and designing then delivering outsourcing solutions.
Bio: After graduating in 1995 from the London School of Economics & RHBNC with an honours degree in Economics & Modern History, Ed undertook a series of trade research and economic advisory roles within UK, European and USA government agencies. After three years in this role Ed jumped ship to something completely different and co-founded a chain of 3 London based restaurants called “Soup and Salad” which are still trading well today. In 2003 Ed completed an MBA at London Business School, during which and prior to joining First Protocol in January 2008 he worked for 6 years as a strategy and corporate turnaround specialist for two London based management consulting practises.
Away from FP: Out of the office Ed is a keen cyclist, which probably has more to do with his love of food and wine than the call of the open road. Ed lives in North London (Muswell Hill) with his wife and their two young children Jacob and Allegra.
Key Clients: Tier 1 Investment Bank, Top 10 Global PE Fund, BT, MasterCard.
