Board of Directors

Biography

Appointed
September 2015

Experience:
Paul has extensive experience in retail and consumer brand businesses, having chaired six consumer businesses over the past 14 years including New Look, Mayborn (Tommee Tippee), Radley and Cath Kidston.

Paul spent his executive career within the retail sector, including as Chief Executive Officer of Somerfield PLC where he led the successful re-engineering of the business and sold the company to Co-op in 2009. Paul has also held positions as European President of Levi Strauss & Co and Chief Executive Officer of Matalan and Asda.

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY BLACK 2976 CHELSEA BOOTS. I CAN WEAR THEM SMART OR CASUAL, BUT CRITICALLY THEY ARE THE MOST COMFORTABLE SHOES I OWN."

Biography

Appointed
January 2025

Experience

Ije has extensive experience in shaping and growing global consumer brands. He served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Dr. Martens Plc for three years, providing strategic oversight and guidance to the company before stepping into the role of Chief Brand Officer. As CBO, Ije successfully led the integration of Marketing, Product, Sustainability, and Strategy, defining the brand's overarching strategy, vision, and direction.

Prior to joining Dr. Martens, Ije was Senior Director at Apple Retail, Apple’s DTC arm, where he played a key role in driving meaningful connections between customers and the Apple brand. Before that, he was Chief Executive Officer at Wolff Olins, leading the group’s offices in London, Dubai, New York, and San Francisco, and helping some of the world’s most exciting businesses build their brands for the digital age.

Ije is currently Chair of charity: water UK, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to communities in need. He also served as Chair of Trustees for Chineke!, supporting Europe’s first professional orchestra comprising a majority of Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse musicians.

Favourite pair of Docs

"My favourite pair of Docs are the 1460 BS Made In England."

Biography

Appointed
May 2024

Experience
Giles has experience navigating financial markets, with years of experience on the executive leadership teams of large companies, including public listed company experience. Giles has a great understanding of what it means to be a leader in a much-loved company. Giles joins Dr. Martens from William Grant & Sons Limited, one of the largest global spirits companies. Prior to this, Giles was at John Menzies plc, first as CFO and then CEO. Giles has also held senior roles at Commercial Estates Group and Gallaher Group plc. 

Favourite pair of Docs

"My favourite Docs are my 1461 Cherry Red shoes, I absolutely love the colour!"

Biography

Appointed
January 2021

Experience
Lynne has a career spanning over 30 years in numerous executive and non-executive roles in UK public limited companies and large private limited companies. Lynne has advised boards on complex transformations in a variety of sectors. Lynne was Group Human Resource Director for Selfridges Group, Group Human Resource and Strategy Director for Carphone Warehouse plc and was part of the leadership team that drove the merger integration at Dixons Carphone, becoming Group Human Resource Director of Dixons Carphone plc. Lynne was a Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair of Greene King plc from 2012 until 2019, William Hill plc from 2019 until 2021 and Treatt plc from 2019 to September 2022. She also held senior roles at Whitbread plc, Bupa and Tesco plc.

Other appointments
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee of Softcat PLC, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Greggs plc, Trustee of The Prince’s Trust and Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Stagecoach Group Ltd.

Favourite pair of Docs

CHERRY RED AVERIL ANKLE BOOTS

Biography

Appointed
January 2021

Experience
Robyn has extensive financial and governance expertise and wide-ranging technology and media industry experience. She served as the Finance Director at Rightmove plc, a FTSE 100 company, until June 2020. She has first-hand experience of high growth through digital disruption, while driving improvements in governance and strategic oversight within organisations. Before joining Rightmove, Robyn was Group Financial Controller at Auto Trader, another media sector distributor.

Robyn qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa with KPMG and worked in both audit and transaction services. Robyn also has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Accounting) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Other appointments
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Sustainability Committees at Softcat PLC. Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at Domino's Pizza Group plc and Huel Ltd. 

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY BLACK 1460S WERE MY FIRST PAIR AND ARE STILL MY FAVOURITE TODAY."

Biography

Appointed
January 2021

Experience
Ian is currently Chief Experience Officer at Ledger, a role he has held since 2020. At Ledger he oversees its consumer facing offer, protecting digital assets under management. Prior to that, he was the Chief Digital Officer at LVMH, working with a large portfolio of luxury retail brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Sephora, and where he continues to act as an Advisor. Ian's other previous roles include CEO of Beats Music, President and Chief Technology Officer at Mediacode and Webmaster at Winamp. Ian contributed to the 2015 launch of Apple Music, including digital streaming channel Beats 1. Ian has been a pioneer of music-related websites, building some of the earliest in the early 1990s.

Ian has a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (with Honours, Phi Beta Kappa) from Indiana University.

Other appointments
Chief Experience Officer at Ledger, Advisor at LVMH, Board Observer at Lyst.

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY 1460 BOOTS THAT GOT ME THROUGH THE WINTER WEATHER FROM PARIS TO CALIFORNIA."

Biography

Appointed
May 2015

Experience
Tara is Co-Head of the Consumer Team and has been involved in consumer investing at Permira since 2008 and has worked across the spectrum of brands, retailers, and consumer internet. She has worked on transactions including Golden Goose, Dr. Martens, Hana Group, eDreams ODIGEO, Iglo Group and New Look. She is now responsible for Permira’s brand investing strategy within the global consumer team.

She was initially appointed to the Board in May 2015 and became a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director in January 2021.

Tara is a non-executive director at Hana Group and Golden Goose and has experience as a director of several companies. Previously, Tara worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley.

Tara has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Cambridge University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard.

Other appointments
Partner at Permira Advisers LLP, Director at SixPlatform VIII Limited, Member of Supervisory Board at Hazel ParentCo SAS, Non-Executive Director at Hana Group and Golden Goose.

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY SPARKLY BLACK MADE IN ENGLAND 1461S - JAZZED UP AND CLASSIC AT THE SAME TIME!"

Biography

Appointed
May 2023

Experience
Andrew joined the Board in May 2023. Andrew brings a wealth of listed company experience to the Board and its Committees. He is currently the Senior Independent Director at Ocado Group plc, where he is also chair of the Remuneration Committee and designated Non-Executive Director for engagement with the workforce. Andrew is also a managing partner at consumer brand investment firm Freston Ventures.

Andrew built his executive career over more than two decades at Carphone Warehouse, where he served as Chief Executive and Chair. As a member of the early founding team, he drove the growth and international expansion of Carphone Warehouse from a small, privately owned retailer to established market leader and FTSE constituent, subsequently leading the merger of the business with Dixons in 2014, where he was Deputy Chief Executive.

Andrew has a BA (Hons) in Management Studies from the University of Leeds.

Other appointments
Senior Independent Director at Ocado Group plc, Chair at WhoCanFixMyCar.com Ltd, Chair at Strike Limited, Chair at Chicken Shop (Chik'n Ltd), Designated Member of Freston Ventures Investments LLP, Director at Smiles and Smiles Holding Limited, Chair of Trustees at The Mix.

Favourite pair of Docs

"2976 CRAZY HORSE BROWN"

Appointed
March 2025

Experience
As a Partner at Permira, Benoit serves on multiple key committees and holds board positions at Permira Holdings Limited and various portfolio companies. Since joining Permira in 2006, Benoit has been instrumental in major transactions including Acromas (The AA & Saga), eDreams ODIGEO, Exclusive Group, Freescale Semiconductor, Iglo Group, NDS, Synamedia and Vacanceselect. Previously, he spent six years at JPMorgan in London and Frankfurt structuring leveraged finance transactions and earlier worked for Paribas in Frankfurt within the Media/Telecom team and in the Leveraged Finance department. 

Other appointments
Partner at Permira Advisers LLP, Board Member of Lowell and Universidad Europea, Board and Audit Committee Member of eDreams ODIGEO.

Appointed
March 2025

Experience
Robert serves as CEO of The Duckhorn Portfolio, bringing extensive experience in building and transforming consumer brands. He previously held the role of EVP and President of Constellation Brands' Wine & Spirits Division, where he focused the portfolio on premium brands and expanded international distribution. His career includes significant leadership positions at Levi's as President – Americas, along with CEO roles at American Eagle Outfitters and John Hardy. Robert has also contributed his expertise as a board member at Canopy Growth, Urban Outfitters and Constellation Brands.

Other appointments
Chief Executive Officer of The Duckhorn Portfolio.

Biography

Appointed
June 2024

Experience
Katherine is a seasoned General Counsel, Company Secretary and executive committee member, with broad legal and governance expertise spanning the consumer, technology and financial services sectors in listed, private equity and founder led environments. Katherine was General Counsel at MoneySavingExpert.com and oversaw its sale to MONY Group plc, where she subsequently served as General Counsel & Company Secretary. She also held the role of Chief Legal Officer at a private equity backed insurance group. Katherine began her legal career at DLA Piper as an Intellectual Property lawyer, which included a secondment to Virgin. She holds a Law degree from Manchester University, a Postgraduate diploma in Commercial Intellectual Property and has lectured at the University of Law.

Favourite pair of Docs

"Made in England Vintage 1460s – classic, cool and comfy!"