With over two decades of experience advising some of the world’s most influential figures, including her tenure as Chief Operating Officer for Simon Cowell’s empire, Davies Marriott brings a formidable track record in scaling high-profile businesses. She also served as Chief of staff to the late Dame Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-born British architect, artist and designer who is recognised as a key figure in the architecture of the late-20th and early-21st centuries. She has been recruited to help to drive Bartlett’s rapidly expanding portfolio spanning media, technology, investments, and consumer brands.
Davies Marriott joined Steven Bartlett’s new company, FlightStory, a year ago and was appointed last month as Chief of Staff to his private office, ahead of his planned move to the United States, announced earlier this year. With a background in supporting British talent on the global stage, Marriott brings a sharp strategic edge to Bartlett’s next chapter.
Operating at the intersection of Bartlett’s media, commercial ventures, and investments, Davies Marriott will oversee content, brand partnerships, IP monetization, and venture strategy, as well as drive global market expansion. A key focus will be Bartlett’s U.S. operations, ensuring a seamless Anglo-American infrastructure to support him as he transitions to life in America.
A seasoned executive in entertainment and brand strategy, Davies Marriott played a defining role in Cowell’s business empire, spearheading the acquisition of the remaining 60% of Syco Entertainment from Sony Music and securing a $125 million deal against the Got Talent franchise – one of the most valuable IPs in the entertainment industry. Her expertise in scaling businesses, structuring talent-driven ventures, and securing high-stakes partnerships makes her the perfect architect for Bartlett’s next phase of expansion.
Jules Davies Marriott on Her New Role:
“Steven Bartlett is redefining what it means to be a modern entrepreneur – he’s building an ecosystem that fuses media, business, and influence in a way that hasn’t been done before. My role is to take that vision and scale it into a global force – structuring opportunities in media, technology, and consumer brands that will shape the future of entrepreneurship.”
Steven Bartlett on the Appointment:
“Jules is one of the most exceptional strategic operators in the industry. Her ability to structure and scale high-impact businesses into global powerhouses is unmatched. I first spoke to her several years ago, and even then, it was clear she had a rare kind of brilliance. I remember thinking at the time that there would come a day when I’d need her on our team. Four years later, I reached out as our business started to expand globally, and I’m incredibly grateful she chose to join us. She’s already made a profound impact.”
Jules joined Steven’s company FlightStory in April 2024 and in February 2025 joined his personal private office as Chief Of Staff and COO.
Additional information about Steven Bartlett, his private office and FlightStory:
Steven Bartlett is a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, host of the award winning podcast, The Diary of a CEO and founder of FlightStory, a global media and investment company, founded to inspire a happier, healthier humanity. FlightStory is home to The Diary of a CEO podcast, and in just a few years, it has achieved remarkable success, ranking as the world’s second most downloaded host-led podcast, based on global downloads and YouTube views. In 2023, Bartlett released his second book, The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life, which became the fastest-selling personal development book since records began, in its home market.
Steven Bartlett’s private office functions as a comprehensive family office, overseeing his diverse investments in more than 50 companies, personal affairs, and lifestyle arrangements.
In 2024, Steven Bartlett teamed up with Georgie Holt and Christiana Brenton to co-found FlightStory, a global media and investment company. Georgie Holt, now CEO of FlightStory, boasts over 20 years in the media industry across the UK and US. Her career includes leadership roles at prominent organisations such as Acast, The Stylist Group, Hearst UK, Clear Channel UK, and ESI Media. Notably, as Managing Director for the Americas at Acast, she was recognised among the most influential figures in global podcasting. Holt’s extensive experience in leading global teams and creating and scaling influential intellectual property is instrumental in driving FlightStory’s mission to innovate within the global media landscape.
Christiana Brenton, now Chief Revenue Officer of FlightStory, brings over a decade of media experience across the APAC, EMEA, and US markets. Her career began at Nova Entertainment, one of Australia’s largest media companies, where she earned recognition as one of B&T Magazine’s 30 Under 30. In 2019, she joined Acast in the UK, becoming the company’s top global revenue generator and playing a key role in scaling their Acast Creative offering for global advertisers. In 2022, Brenton relocated to New York to lead Acast’s US transformation – where she met FlightStory co-founder Georgie Holt – rebuilding local sales operations and re-crafting the company’s market positioning. Her strategic leadership and consistent delivery of double-digit year-on-year growth have been instrumental in shaping FlightStory’s commercial success.
FlightStory aims to redefine the podcast media and investment industry by focusing on every component of podcast development, creation, growth, and monetisation. The company has launched several video-first podcast brands, including shows by prominent figures such as Davina McCall, Paul C Brunson, Dr Tara Swart, Africa Brooke, and Kristen Holmes. To date, every FlightStory media brand has achieved a top 10 position in its respective home market’s audio charts, which is an unrivalled and unprecedented achievement.
FlightStory Studio operates global production studios in London, Manchester, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving podcast landscape.