Andrew Gerrie (Executive Director)
In 1994 Andrew co-founded the Lush group of companies, and then co-managed the business alongside the other founders.
Today Lush generates just under £1bn in retail sales from approx. 1,000 stores and online channels, supported by 8 manufacturing facilities across the globe.
Andrew has been Non-Executive Chairman of Hotel Chocolat Group plc since 2015 and holds stakes in several consumer businesses, including: Salako Products Limited, Amador Limited and Ginger Teleporter Limited.
Andrew holds a B.Com degree from Auckland University, New Zealand.
Paul Hodgins (Non-Executive Director)
Paul is CEO and co-founder of Ginger Teleporter Ltd, a leading British micro e-mobility operator. Prior to Ginger Teleporter Ltd, he spent 12 years in the telecommunications industry and had a wide variety of roles in product development, operations, customer experience, and marketing in Virgin Media. Paul led major organisational transformation in customer installations, introduction of wi-fi, voice of the customer, and B2B commercial analytics.
Paul has also been a local government councillor for over 15 years and was former Leader and Cabinet Member of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. He is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven ability to identify and develop disruptive technologies at an early stage, having founded and sold one of the first UK internet streaming companies well before the emergence of today's major streaming services.
Paul started his career in Sony's R&D labs in Tokyo, following his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors from Queen's University. Paul also has an MBA from the London Business School.
Andrew Tone (Executive Director)
Andrew has been based in Japan since 1995 where he has built numerous businesses. In 1998 he co-founded and grew the Lush group’s Japanese business to $160M in turnover with 160 stores. He also built manufacturing facilities that supported much of the Lush group’s business in Asia and created a buying business in Hong Kong that sourced and provided material logistics for other members of the Lush group.
In 2005, Andrew created a brand incubation business in Hong Kong to focus on building consumer brand concepts. Through that venture he co-founded the skincare brand Steam Cream Limited, which he runs today.
In addition to the beauty industry, Andrew has built and sold a marketing technologies business he founded in 1999 and sold in 2004.
James Wilson (Non-Executive Director)
Shortly after gaining his Masters Degree in Engineering from Durham University, James joined the pan-european equity team at Aviva Investors, where he also gained the CFA designation and covered a number of sectors which included consumer brands.
In 2013, James joined Phoenix Asset Management and became a partner shortly after. He has since represented Phoenix on the board of Hornby PLC and Dignity PLC. He now manages The Huginn Fund which looks to invest in robust businesses both in the UK and abroad. The Huginn Fund portfolio has extensive investments in branded jewellery, luxury, and other consumer products.
Angus Thirlwell (Board Adviser)
Angus co-founded Hotel Chocolat plc in 1993 and serves as its CEO. He has a particular focus on brand strategy, product and channel models, and marketing.
Angus attended Cranfield School of Management Business Growth Programme and is a committee member for the Academy of Chocolate.
|