FlightStory Appoints Claire Blunt As Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Steven Bartlett has announced that industry veteran Claire Blunt is joining FlightStory to lead finance and operations. Claire is a world-class media executive, having held critical C-suite roles at The Guardian, Hearst, and Future plc. She brings rare multidisciplinary expertise across media, finance, law, operations, and global growth.
Steven Bartlett has today announced that FlightStory has hired industry veteran Claire Blunt to lead finance and operations. Claire brings a world-class track record of executive leadership across top-tier media organisations. She served as Chief Advertising Officer and CEO International at The Guardian Media Group, where she led global commercial strategy, overseeing advertising, international operations, and revenue growth during a period of digital transformation. She then advanced to COO of Future plc, a leading digital media publisher reaching over 400 million users monthly.
Prior to that, she was Chief Financial, Operations & Data Officer at Hearst Europe where she worked for almost 6 years, driving financial strategy, operational improvements, and data-driven decision-making in a competitive publishing landscape. Claire is also a qualified accountant and barrister, bringing multi-disciplinary expertise to the table that spans finance, law, operations, and commercial acumen.
Claire has been consulting with Flightstory in recent months in which time she has played a pivotal role in shaping operational frameworks and guiding strategic decision-making. As Chief Financial And Operations Officer at FlightStory, she will oversee finance, operations, legal, compliance, people and systems – a vital role as FlightStory scales the business into a cross-Atlantic media and investment platform.
With offices already established in London, Manchester, Los Angeles, and Boston, Blunt’s appointment marks a pivotal step in scaling FlightStory’s global operations. Her expertise will be critical in architecting streamlined systems, driving cross-border regulatory excellence, and embedding a high-performance, high-integrity culture that underpins the company’s international ambitions.
FlightStory Founder Steven Bartlett commented:
“Claire is an exceptional operator, crystal clear critical thinker and profoundly ambitious. She’s led global teams at The Guardian, Future, and Hearst, and built commercial structures at scale. Her mentality, wisdom, and leadership will be transformative. I’m incredibly excited to build this next chapter alongside her and she’s had more impact in months than I could have expected in years.”
FlightStory CEO and Cofounder Georgie Holt commented:
“I worked with Claire a decade ago – she always was and always will be a mentor and an inspiration to me. She is someone who leads with clarity, conviction and a rare mix of commercial sharpness and people-first leadership. To be building this company alongside her now isn’t just a full-circle moment – it’s magic. She’s the kind of leader you want beside you when you’re building something that truly matters, with the ambitions we have and taking it to a global scale.”
FlightStory CRO and Cofounder Christiana Brenton commented:
“Claire is a rare force. From the moment she joined us, she’s brought clarity, precision and impact – all delivered with integrity and empathy. Her ability to simplify the complex, drive operational excellence, and embed high standards while keeping people at the heart of every decision is world-class. With deep commercial acumen and a natural instinct for building high-performance cultures, Claire joins us at exactly the right moment to shape the next chapter of FlightStory as we scale globally. I feel incredibly lucky to be building alongside her.”
Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment, as FlightStory expands across the US. Recent moves, such as the appointment of Niki Aryana as Chairman in July 2025 to lead global expansion highlight the company’s momentum. Claire’s strategic depth and operational excellence will be key to creating an enduring and resilient organisation, positioning FlightStory to capitalise on emerging opportunities in media, technology, and investing while maintaining its core mission of innovation and positive change.
This hire not only reinforces FlightStory’s commitment to assembling a world-class team but also signals its intent to become a dominant player in the global arena, blending visionary entrepreneurship with proven operational leadership.
