Andy Foote is a Birmingham-based entrepreneur, founder, and philanthropist whose career spans property, recruitment, investment, and charitable leadership. With a portfolio of successful ventures built on strategic growth and social impact, Andy is known for combining commercial strength with a strong sense of purpose.

He is the Founder and Chairman of Joseph Mews Property Group, a prominent UK-based property investment and development company. Joseph Mews is recognised for delivering high-quality residential projects and investment opportunities across the UK, with a growing international client base. Andy’s leadership has been central to the group’s expansion, reputation, and investor trust.

Andy is also the Founder and CEO of Seven Invest Ltd, the former sales and marketing arm of Seven Capital PLC, one of the UK’s leading property development companies. Through Seven Invest, Andy played a pivotal role in shaping Seven Capital’s sales strategy, investor relations, and international presence, helping the group become a major name in UK real estate.

In addition, he is the founder of BMS Homes and BMS Land, both focused on residential and mixed-use property development. These companies reflect Andy’s passion for delivering well-designed, community-enhancing homes that meet modern standards and create long-term value.

Andy is also the founder of Alexander Daniels, a specialist recruitment consultancy working across the accountancy, finance, and executive search sectors. Built on trust, industry insight, and people-first thinking, Alexander Daniels has become a leading name in talent acquisition and career development.

Outside of business, Andy is a dedicated philanthropist. He founded Fetcher Dog, a registered rescue charity that rehomes dogs from abuse and abandonment. He is also the Co-Founder of The Brain Tumour Charity, one of the UK’s most influential medical charities, and the Matt Gallagher Foundation, which supports his close friend’s values and impact for the MND community.

Andy’s leadership is defined by clarity, integrity, and a belief in building ventures that deliver lasting impact. Whether in property, recruitment, or charitable work, he leads with purpose and a commitment to doing the right thing.

Firmly rooted in Birmingham, Andy remains closely involved in both the city’s business and charitable communities. His work reflects his core belief: success is measured not just by profit, but by the positive difference you leave behind.

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Alex Konanykhin is the founder and CEO of Unicoin, an audited, public reporting, and regulations-compliant cryptocurrency company. His background is so implausible that he resorts to media reports to summarize his life story:

The Wall Street Journal: “Mr. Konanykhin was a whiz-kid physics student who became a pioneering Russian capitalist in early 1990s, building a banking and investment empire valued at an estimated $300 million all by his mid-20s. He was a member of President Boris Yeltsin's inner circle.”

ABC TV: “Russian Bill Gates.”

The Baltimore Sun: “Business whiz kid.”

CNN: “Alex Konanykhin controlled Russia's largest commercial bank in the 1990s”

The Times [of London]: “By the time he was 25 he was one of the most important figures in post-Communist Russia. But in 1992, while on a business trip to Hungary, Alex Konanykhin was kidnapped.”

Forbes: “Alex Konanykhin defected to the United States in 1992 and became the first person to be granted political asylum in the United States for opposing corruption in post-Soviet Russia.”

Washington Post: “National Republican Congressional Committee chose Konanykhin "New York Businessman of the Year"

The Sun: “Alex Konanykhin fled Russia in 1992 and won asylum in the US after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The entrepreneur had set up 100 different companies in Russia and had an estimated net worth of $300 million by the time he was 25. He is regarded as one of the first Russian millionaires after the fall of the Iron Curtain. One of the newly open country's leading lights, he even met with US President George HW Bush in 1991 on a joint visit with Russian leader Boris Yeltsin. However, he was then kidnapped in 1992 while visiting Budapest and all of his business assets were seized in Russia. … Being hunted by the Russian state, Konanykhin won asylum in the US in 1997 and set up a new life - but the shadow of the Kremlin continued to loom over him.He went on to rebuild a business empire and set up multimillion dollar firms such as TransparentBusiness in the US.”

Los Angeles Daily Journal: “Representing himself through much of the process, Konanykhin managed to convince an immigration judge of an alleged INS and KGB conspiracy and cover-up. Following the court's admonishment, the INS agreed to drop all charges and also pay $100,000..The judge also ordered an investigation of the Justice Department. In separate actions, Konanykhin subsequently won multimillion dollar libel judgments against two Russian newspapers. A $100 million lawsuit against the Justice Department is pending, alleging perjury, fraud, torture and witness tampering by U.S government officers on behalf of the Russian Mafia.”

Profit Magazine: “Imagine you are a teenage physics genius who quickly amasses a $300 million empire of real estate and banking ventures, has dozens of cars, six hundred employees, several mansions and two hundred bodyguards—but you are nonetheless kidnapped by those you trusted, threatened with torture and death, and have your entire empire stolen from you one dark night in Budapest. You escape with your life by racing through Eastern-block countries and flying to New York on stashed-away passports—only to have the KGB and Russian Mafia hell-bent on your hide and the U.S. government jailing you and conspiring to serve you up into their clutches. All this before your 29th birthday. Sound like a Tom Clancy thriller? No. . . just a slice in the life of Alexander Konanykhin.”

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Colonel John Blashford-Snell (JBS), one of the world’s most renowned and respected explorers, has organised and led over one hundred expeditions including an exploration and first navigation of the Ethiopian Blue Nile. In 1972, using the first Range Rovers and a Landrover, he led the first vehicle crossing of the Darien Gap including the infamous Atrato Swamp. In 1971/72 this team was the first to complete the drive from Alaska to Cape Horn. In 1974 he navigated almost all 2700 miles of the Zaire (Congo) River. Most of his expeditions have environmental, medical and scientific objectives.

In 1969, he and his colleagues formed the Scientific Exploration Society, which became the parent body for several worldwide ventures launched by HRH the Prince of Wales. JBS then raised funds and selected a team to run Operation Drake involving 400 young explorers from 27 countries on a 2-year circumnavigation. Ultimately a much larger global youth programme was organised and by 1992 Operation Raleigh had enabled 10,000 young people from 50 countries to take part in challenges and expeditions around the world. Now, as Raleigh International, over 580,000 young men and women have benefitted from this unique programme. Many of them, like Major Tim Peake have become explorers in their own right.

Retiring from the Army and as Director-General of Operation Raleigh in 1991, his commitment to young people continues. In 1993, he became Chairman of a £2.5 million appeal to establish a centre to provide vocational training and guidance for the young of Merseyside. This Centre now known as “The Door” has helped over 40,000 less privileged young people. Later he chaired The Liverpool Constructions Craft Guild to promote the training of skilled craftsmen in Liverpool.

In 2000 he delivered a Grand Piano to the Wai Wai people of Guyana. A BBC film of this helped to raise $2 million to conserve the tribal area. In 2017 he took an ambulance boat to a remote tribe on the Amazon.

The Colonel’s work has been recognized by the award of the CBE, and in 1974 of the Segrave Trophy, the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (1975), the Patrons Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1993) and the Gold Medal of the Institute of Royal Engineers (1994). He has also received medals from Bolivia, Colombia, Mongolia and the Explorers Club (USA).

His expeditions are acknowledged for developing inflatable boats for white water rafting, paramotoring on scientific expeditions and other technical advances.

JBS has written 16 books, broadcasts and lectures whilst leading expeditions worldwide with the Scientific Exploration Society and projects with the Just A Drop water charity.

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