COCOA RUNNERS - Key Persons
Genevieve joined Cocoa Runners from the charity sector, convinced that craft chocolate can change the world. After graduating from Lancaster University with an English Literature degree, she spent eight years working in the charity sector, including working with survivors of genocide, helping them to share their experiences. She was always a big food fan, but after her sister, who works for a bean-to-bar chocolate maker, introduced her to craft chocolate, she never looked back. She joined Cocoa Runners in 2023 as Director of Marketing, and aims to introduce more people to the wonders of craft chocolate. She judges for the Academy of Chocolate, and can often be found telling anyone she meets how to properly taste chocolate, whether they've asked her to or not!
Job Titles:
- Digital Media and Events Manager
After relocating from Brisbane, Australia, to London in 2024, James joined Cocoa Runners as a Sales and Events Assistant. While new to the world of craft chocolate, he brings a unique blend of experience in coffee, music, and marketing. His passion for specialty coffee, developed through years as a barista, gives him a keen appreciation for the parallels between craft chocolate and coffee culture. In his spare time, he's reconnecting with his Irish heritage by playing traditional music on the mandolin and tenor banjo. James is excited to be part of the craft chocolate revolution!
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing Executive
After graduating from the University of Sussex in 2022 with a Neuroscience degree, Maia thought that working as an Intern for Cocoa Runners would only last for the summer. But after learning more about the bean-to-bar movement and the importance of ethical chocolate consumption, she became passionate about the world of craft chocolate and decided to stick around! Since joining, Maia has rebuilt the Growers section of the website, and builds the new maker pages whenever a maker joins our carefully curated collection. Today, Maia works as a Digital Marketing Executive who focuses predominantly on the website and social media. She thinks that the most fulfilling part of her job is spreading the word about ethical chocolate consumption, and introducing new growers and makers to you.
As a former award-winning teacher, Nick has a great deal of experience communicating ideas, and engaging people about the subjects he cares about. Nick brings his learning expertise to Cocoa Runners' extensive programme of virtual and in-person chocolate tastings and educational sessions. With a passion for wildlife and conservation, Nick previously worked with wildlife in a number of locations, and as a lodge manager and field guide in South Africa. It's this passion for nature that brought him into the chocolate space. In his Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health master's degree, Nick's thesis focused on the use of cacao agroforestry for biodiversity conservation. Nick is an enthusiastic advocate for craft chocolate, exploring ways that it can save the world - he can't wait to share his knowledge with you.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Co - Founder & Chair of Chocolate
Few people know more about chocolate than Spencer. His love for craft chocolate began in the 90s when travelling to the US. His career has spanned everything from making cabbage-patch dolls in Asia to launching the first major online music discovery service, Last.fm. But in 2013, he decided it was time for the world to discover the world of craft chocolate.
Today, he is a champion for craft chocolate makers all over the world. Spencer hosts chocolate tastings and education courses around the world, judges for international chocolate awards, and he often appears on TV, media and at conferences, including Sunday Brunch, World Cocoa Conference, Great Taste Awards, Society of Flavourists, International Wine Challenge, Barista Connect, Academy of Chocolate and more. Hear him speak on Professor Tim Spector's Zoe podcast here.
Spencer is a trusted advisor to many who work with cocoa and chocolate, and has tasted many thousands of bars of chocolate. He is a keen swimmer, sitting on the committees for Hampstead Ponds, and is passionate about health and wellbeing - and the role chocolate can play in this.
For anything from the history of chocolate to the science of taste and flavour, Spencer is always on the hunt for new insights and expertise. He is always on the look out for great new craft chocolate makers and farmers, exploring how cocoa is grown and crafted - and understanding more about flavour, and how craft chocolate pairs with other great craft experiences like wine and coffee. A tasting event with Spencer brings new perspectives to savouring and tasting experiences, it's not to be missed.