Wilkinson Plus - About Us

"Embracing change and new ideas, our board is a combination of the third generation of the Wilkinson family, together with first class business people".

Karin Swann, granddaughter of the founder of Wilkinson; JK Wilkinson, became a Family Non Executive Director of the Company in February 2004. She describes herself as committed to ensuring that she represents and maintains the values of the family owners of Wilkinson in the Boardroom.

Karin’s career started outside Wilkinson, and initially she focused on IT and computer systems. In 1994, she joined the family business in the finance team (where she qualified in 1997 as an Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)) before moving to head up the Human Resource function until 2003 when she became a Director.

Lisa, granddaughter of the founder of Wilkinson; JK Wilkinson, became a Family Non Executive Director of the Company in February 2004. She too takes the view that her role is to represent and maintain the values of the family owners in the Boardroom.

Graduating in English and History before qualifying in Law, Lisa joined the legal profession as a solicitor in private practice specialising in Discrimination and Employment Law for 10 years, before committing to Wilkinson in 2004 as a Director.

Stuart joined Wilkinson in September 2006 with a wealth of experience in high profile high street retailers. He took over the role of Chief Executive Officer in January 2007.

After studying at Manchester University in Management Sciences, Stuart joined Sainsbury's as a graduate trainee, quickly becoming personal assistant to a regional director, and joining the buying team after a short time.

After three years as Head of Meat Trading, Stuart crossed the Atlantic and spent time as Vice-President of the Shaw's grocery operation, (Sainsbury's North American operation) initially overseeing new store formats followed by grocery buying.

Returning home to Sainsbury's UK operation, Stuart became a director overseeing a number of operational and strategic functions in a six-year period until becoming Assistant Managing Director and subsequently Managing Director in 2003.

Stuart ended his long relationship with Sainsbury when he took up the role of Managing Director with AS Watson (owners of Superdrug, Savers and The Perfume Shop) in May 2005. He was recruited to look after the tough Asian market and was based in Taiwan.

June 2006 saw the appointment of John as non-executive director. He brought with him more than 35 years senior management experience across seven well-respected businesses including Virgin, the Body Shop and Thorntons.

Although recently non executive director with Thorntons Plc and senior non executive director with the Restaurant Group Plc, John has spent the majority of his career working within the Virgin Group. His long-term relationship began in 1986 as special projects director to Richard Branson following the first fourteen years of his professional life as a qualified accountant, sales and marketing director and finally managing director for Bristol Mysers Pharmaceuticals.

Before becoming executive director of the group board of Virgin, and chairman of Virgin retail, sound and media, brides, drinks, games, cosmetics and jewellery, John took a break to head up Body Shop International Plc for five years

Ian Ellis is Wilkinson's Chief Financial Officer and he joined the company in April 2008. Prior to joining he worked at Wm Morrisons Supermarkets PLC as a Head of Finance and previously to that he worked for Northern Foods PLC in a variety of senior finance roles.

Ian has a First Class Honours Degree in Economics from Nottingham Trent University and currently lives in Sheffield with his wife and two daughters.