The CDA team has grown!

We have had three new team members join us this autumn!
(From left to right: John Moola, Rachael Aldridge, Lydia Clarkson).

John Moola has joined as CDA's Business Engagement Lead. London born and a global traveller John, brings with him over 25+ years’ commercial experience in the hospitality arena holding senior roles such as Director of Sales, Director of Business Development across various premium London Hotels and brings with him an exceptionally strong business relationship management and engagement background working with many stakeholders, decision makers, strategic partners globally from his past roles.

John has been actively involved with several BIDs over the past decade, most notably holding voluntary positions as Destination Steering Group Chair and Board Director of the Victoria BID until 2021 with his last hotel group. After a short break, in the summer of 2022 we tempted back into work life as he took a leap into the freelance consulting world and has worked closely with the teams at London Heritage Quarter on the successful renewal ballot of The Northbank, Victoria Westminster & Whitehall BIDS in 2022/3, where he also set up the London HQ Network – a value added B2B service bringing together Hospitality and Corporates partners across the 4 BID footprints.

Rachael Aldridge has joined CDA as Communications & Marketing Manager, leveraging an extensive background in air quality, public realm and London-based regeneration projects. Rachael has worked closely with Business Improvement Districts and local authorities through strategic communications and project management in her previous role in communications at Cross River Partnership. With a background in social media strategy, marketing and events, she is excited to be joining the team!

Lydia Clarkson is the Head of Placemaking for Central District Alliance. She has 17 years of experience in placemaking in central London including 10 of her 16 years at Westminster City Council followed by 7 years with central London REIT Shaftesbury Plc, improving the high profile locations of Carnaby, Chinatown, Soho and Covent Garden.  She has spent more than 25 years working in central London in various built environment services including waste collection and street cleansing, parking and regeneration services as well as improving buildings, working with local authorities on the delivery of public realm schemes and providing feedback on policy as it relates to the private property industry. She has experience of managing areas in collaboration with asset management teams and developers and is passionate about ensuring our public spaces are fit for the future.

In March 2023, Lydia became the Chair of the West End Streets Group for Business LDN, where she oversees the process of supporting major public realm improvement across central London through the advocacy provided by Business LDN.