World Options Connect Conference 2025
On the 18th and 19th of September 2025, Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey, played host to a two-day gathering of strategy, celebration, and forward momentum at the World Options Annual Conference.
The event was hosted by Managing Director Michael Gratton and expertly MC’d by Hani Altalli (Finance & Controlling Manager, Mail Boxes Etc. UK). It brought together franchisees, sales reps, HQ leaders, and global partners for two days packed with insight, innovation, and inspiration.
A Growing Network, A Sharpened Edge
The 2025 conference marked a clear milestone for the network, with 23 new partners joining the World Options family this year alone, a powerful indicator of World Options growing reputation and robust offering.
From strategic tech upgrades to on-the-ground sales support, this year’s theme was clear: smarter systems, stronger support, and scalable success.
Key Updates & Announcements
The leadership team unveiled several major initiatives designed to empower franchisees and improve end-to-end user experience:
New Head Office Support Systems – focused on streamlining the customer journey and enhancing visibility across the shipping lifecycle.
UX Enhancements to the Franchise Portal – with better dashboard tools, performance tracking, and quotation flow.
Improved Carrier Partnerships – enabling franchisees to offer more competitive pricing and service levels.
Sales Enablement Investments – including new lead generation tools, field-based sales coaches, and on-site training events at HQ in Accrington.
Franchisees were also given the opportunity to explore high-growth verticals during interactive Q&A sessions on eCommerce, freight, and high-volume shipping, hosted by internal specialists and carrier partners.
Richard Baker, Regional VP of IT & Gerardo Di Filippo, Chief Transformation Officer at Fortidia
Global Insight from Fortidia Leadership
This year’s event was elevated by a series of strategic presentations from Fortidia Group executives, including:
Simone De Giuseppe, Group Chief Information Officer, sharing insights on the future of shipping tech across brands.
Richard Baker, Regional VP of IT, on secure scalability and platform innovation.
Valeria Mennella, Chief Marketing Officer, unveiling new brand alignment and digital campaigns across Fortidia’s global portfolio.
These sessions emphasised World Options’ integral role within the Fortidia network and highlighted the global backing behind the World Options UK’s growth.
Awards & Recognition: Honouring Outstanding Performance
No World Options Conference would be complete without recognising the standout performers who went above and beyond in 2024.
Award Winners
| Award | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| YoY Growth Champion 1 | Lynn Dignan |
| YoY Growth Champion 2 | Alex Marr |
| New Business Champion | Tristan Shaw (Sales Rep With Most New Business) |
| Margin Master Award | Alex Crawley (Sales Rep Generating The Highest Margin) |
| 100 Club Award (Highest Gross Margin) |
Lewis Smith Alex Sikorski Andy Wright Matt Patten Ata Mohammed |
| Franchisee of the Year (Network Growth, HQ Support, Peer Feedback) |
Matthew Mansfield & Cameron Wilkey |
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
With new tools, fresh talent, and enhanced field support, World Options is primed to scale smarter and grow faster.
A sincere thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the 2025 Annual Conference. Special recognition goes to Brand & Communications Specialist Annika Spieler and Learning & Development Manager Lauren Radcliffe for their outstanding efforts in bringing the event to life.
To stay updated on news, case studies, and upcoming events, keep an eye on the World Options website.
