Nicola Blackford is the Chief Commercial Officer at State of Play Hospitality, a global leader in multi-brand social entertainment. She oversees international growth strategies for the company’s owned brands, Hijingo (bingo) and Bounce (ping pong), focusing on strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and franchise expansion. In her role, Nicola also drives product and tech innovation initiatives that elevate customer experience, optimize revenue streams, and improve operational efficiency. Before joining State of Play, Nicola served as CCO at an immersive large-scale events company and has advised top-tier retail and consumer brands across the UK, Europe, USA, and China with Boston Consulting Group.