Meet the Team

Carl Budgen | Workplace Furniture Specialist | Start date: 2022

Carl has over 8 years of industry knowledge, made up of experience from his time in both manufacturing where he was tasked with training and development of a network of dealerships across the UK and France, and within a dealership as part of the account management team and developing new business opportunities.  His role at KI oversees development of dealerships within the UK with a focus on London and specialising in workplace furniture. Outside of work you would normally find him on walks with his two boys and chasing after the dog.

Antony Gatley | Education Furniture Specialist | Start date: 2016

Having gained over 17 years’ experience in the wider furniture industry including Healthcare, Hospitality and Public Realm, Antony joined KI in 2016. As a Regional Sales Manager for Education, Antony is responsible for the development of sales into schools, academies and universities in the North of the UK. When not spending time with his family or travelling, Antony’s main passion is running Ultra Marathon Races, specifically on the fells and mountains. Amongst many other, he recently completed the iconic Highland Fling 53 mile Ultra Race in the Scottish Highlands.

Ashley Grimsey | Education Furniture Specialist | Start date: 2022

Ashley joined KI in 2022, entering the furniture world and bringing with him 15 years of experience in the FMCG sector. In his previous role as European Sales Manager, he managed complex business partnerships with multi-national organisations. His role at KI is the management and growth of our key contract accounts.

Most weekends you will find Ashley, his wife and son in the vicinity of a touch rugby pitch; playing, coaching, refereeing or mentoring school age to regional standard athletes.

Joe Ellis | Education Furniture Specialist | Start date: 2023

Joe Joined KI in February 2022!     As an education furniture specialist, Joe is responsible for development of sales into schools, academies, and universities in the south of the UK. He has a wealth of account & sales management experience having worked in the construction industry for over 5 years. Prior to this he managed the fleet sales division for a major car manufacturing company, having started his working career in the customer service/Leisure industry.   In his spare time, he likes to play golf, watch Football/Boxing, and loves a good Holiday.

Christopher Bingham | Internal Sales Manager | Start date: 2024

Most recently Chris worked as a Sales Account Manager in the B2B division of the ‘’Theo Paphitis Retail Group’. Selling general stationery and furniture into the education sector, it was here that he toned his sales technique and discovered a majority of his sales were predominantly furniture based. It was then a natural progression which led him to furniture manufacturing and the KI Group. Outside of work he enjoys regular gym sessions to maintain his general physical and mental wellbeing. As well as this he likes his rugby (union) and occasionally the odd visit to ‘Harlequins’. Other than that, he likes corny 80’s films & music and traditional London pubs.  

Hatem Shelleh | Regional Sales Manager - Middle East, North | Start date: 2012

Based in Amman, Jordan, Hatem covers Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon & Saudi Arabia across the education, workplace and healthcare sectors.

Colin McCourt | Supply Chain Manager - Workplace | Start date: 2013

Colin joined KI in 2012 and has over 20 years’ experience in the contract furnishing industry. As Supply Chain Manager, he manages a team of highly experienced logistics and service specialists whilst also overseeing factory and supply chain performance and relationships. Prior to joining KI, Colin's background was in manufacturing, of which he has over 25 years of experience. His work life started in the seventies as an apprentice in sheet metal working. Colin also had some variety throughout his working career which included restaurateur and hot air ballooning. He continues to enjoy life and the day to day challenges it produces.

Sarah MacDonald Taylor | Operations Manager - Workplace | Start date: 2012

Sarah joined KI in 2012 and is responsible for coordinating the manufacture and delivery of major projects. She liaises frequently with our customers, factories and installation teams to arrange logistics, process orders and ensure their smooth delivery. She has previous customer service experience in roles within hospitality, local government and private financial companies.

Marta Kobus | Furniture Project Manager | Start date: 2014

Marta joined KI in 2014, and works closely with our customers and manufacturers to ensure the smooth delivery of projects. Prior to joining KI, Marta spent a few years doing academic research, including the publication of a couple of papers. Other work experience includes finance and customer services within blue chip companies. In her spare time Marta enjoys playing badminton and dancing. Her interests include alternative therapies such as reiki.

Christina Mackenzie | Senior Account Coordinator – Workplace | Start date: 2014

Christina joined KI in the Summer of 2014 as an Office Junior, and has since grown to join our Sales Support team. Christina’s role involves liaising with clients, arranging shipments, deliveries & installations, producing quotes and processing orders. Prior to joining KI, she worked for a national hotel company's online reservations department. Outside of work, Christina enjoys spending time with her family and socialising with friends.

Joanna Laverty | Operations & Sustainability Manager | Start date: 2018

Joanna started working at KI in 2018 and began on the education sales support team as Team Leader. In September, she took on the role of Operations Manager in the Middle East, liaising with dealers, factories and forwarders. Prior to KI, Joanna has previous experience of customer service roles both in the UK and Austria. She also has previous experience in the Nuclear Material Accounting field thanks to her time in the United Nations. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys learning Japanese, reading, solving crossword puzzles and traveling, with Chiang Mai being her favourite location in the world.

Sarah Deamer | Furniture Project Manager | Start date: 2019

Sarah started life at KI on the Workplace Sales Support team before transitioning to the Middle East division where she became Operations Manager. In February 2019, she took on the role of Project Manager to coordinate all aspects of major projects from bid submittal to their delivery and installation. Sarah graduated with a degree in Woven Textiles and has experience in both B2B and B2C furniture sales administration. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys socialising with friends, cooking and running in the sunshine.

Sarah Schneider | Account Coordinator – Global Accounts | Start date: 2021

Sarah joined KI in 2021 and works with the Global accounts sales support team. She is passionate about living a fit and healthy lifestyle while expressing her creative side writing in her spare time.

Aaron Navin | Supply Chain Manager - Education | Start date: 2016

Aaron joined KI in 2016 as the logistics planner. In 2022 he assumed his role as Supply Chain Manager  Education, where he covers stock management, new product development and assisting the rest of the customer support team with optimising information flow to customers. This includes co-ordinating between warehouses, shippers and clients to ensure everything goes as planned. Prior to working at KI, Aaron has had previous experience in the furniture industry, having been part of the sales and customer service team at a domestic furniture retailer. In his spare time, Aaron can be found indulging his competitive nature, whether it be on the football pitch, tennis court or card table.

Jazmin Morris-Thurgood | Education Sales Support Manager | Start date: 2014

Jazmin joined KI in July 2014 and is responsible for the internal implementation and delivery of major projects from pre-order stage, through placement of order, delivery and installation and day2 service. Her background is very predominantly in art supplies, customer services and logistics. She studied fine art and previously created a curatorial collective. Jazmin spends her free time painting, watching film, going to the gym and savouring a good glass of red.

Simraj Basra | Account Coordinator – Education | Start date: 2022

Simraj joined KI in 2022 as an Account Coordinator for the education department. Outside of work, she likes to keep fit and healthy as well as spending a lot of quality time with family and friends.

Freya McLaughlin | Account Coordinator – Education | Start date: 2022

Freya joined KI in 2022 and works with the Education sales support team. She loves going to concerts, reading, travelling both solo and with friends. Freya is at her happiest when she is with her dog and those closest to her.

Jennifer Hiden | Education Sales Support Manager - Education | Start date: 2019

Jennifer joined KI in 2019. Previously Jennifer had worked within the Pharmaceutical industry for 5 years as an Account Manager for Europe and the MENA regions. Jennifer is currently renovating her 'forever home' and is looking forward to spending a lot of time in France during her weekends, where her parents live.

Karolina Zawila | Account Coordinator – Education | Start date: 2022

Karolina joined KI in December 2021 as an Account Co-ordinator. Karolina comes from Poland and her accent makes her colleagues smile. She is a former athlete with much success and now fulfils a full-time mother to her son Błażej.

Chris Eden | Account Co-ordinator – Education | Start date: 2022

Chris joined KI in September 2022 as an Operations Manager. In the past 20 years, Chris has had various roles in financial services, but mainly as a mortgage adviser having attained full CeMAP qualifications. Out of work, Chris has semi-retired from playing hockey & now spends weekends coaching, during the closed/off season he enjoys DIY & exploring the countryside with his partner & 2 dogs. 

Lee Andrews | Design Manager | Start date: 2006

Lee has a degree in Product Design and has worked in the contract furnishing industry for over 15 years. He manages KI’s design and space planning team and is responsible for all design, 3D visualisation, technical illustrations, photography, and CAD planning. He also specialises in client specific tailoring and customisation of product. Lee enjoys sports, particularly triathlon, so most weekends he will be swimming, cycling or running or all three!

George Drake-Lee | Design & Space Planning | Start date: 2020

George joined KI in 2020. He has a degree in Product Design and has worked in the furniture industry since leaving university. His role includes supporting technical, design and space planning needs within the product design and development team. Outside of work George is a keen car enthusiast and enjoys spending his weekends restoring his classic mini, travelling, surfing and socialising with friends.

Gerald Stone | Technical Designer | Start date: 2023

Gerry joined KI in 2023 as part of the Design team. He has worked in the furniture design industry for over 5 years, with abrief stint in set design. Gerry is a cat lover who in his spare time enjoys cooking, coding and exercising, particularly running and cycling. 

Thomas Morris-Thurgood | Financial Controller | Start date: 2007

Tom has been working at KI since early 2007 and works within the accounts department as a fellow member of ACCA. His role is to ensure the day-to-day running of the finance function runs smoothly as well as dealing with regulatory and compliance issues and everything in between. Prior to working at KI Tom gained a degree in Mathematics and helped setup a not for profit organisation. When Tom is not working he loves to play golf, socialise with his friends and fancies himself as a bit of a bedroom DJ!

Anna Lowczecka | Management Accountant | Start date: 2011

As Management Accountant at KI, Anna is involved in producing the management reports. She also oversees client invoicing and credit control. Anna is undertaking her ACCA accountancy exams and hopes to complete her qualification soon. In the past, she worked as an office co-ordinator and bookkeeper for a recruitment consultancy firm. In her spare time, apart from studying for exams, Anna enjoys cycling and all forms of dancing.

Krystian Szczerbiak | Finance Assistant | Start date: 2015

Krystian joined KI in November 2015 as a Finance Assistant. He looks after accounts payable, ensuring that all suppliers are paid on time. Shortly after graduating from university, Krystian worked for a media company where he gained his first experience in finance. He is now undertaking ACCA exams to become a chartered accountant. In his free time, Krystian enjoys cycling, horse riding, cinema, catching up with friends, cooking and trying new restaurants.

Elizabeth Barrett | Marketing Manager | Start date: 2023

Lizzie has a wealth of marketing knowledge across a variety of industries including hospitality, tourism, interiors, and manufacturing. Lizzie studied Fine Art at the BRIT school followed by The University of Edinburgh but describes herself as ‘too practical’ to be a solitary artist. This is what led to a career in marketing and the choice to mix creative skills with business and psychology. Her biggest career achievements include rebranding a heritage paint maker (Mylands) and transitioning a hotel group to the luxury sector (The Doyle Collection). Outside of work Lizzie’s ‘unhealthy relationship’ with social media is mostly used as ‘research’ as she continues to carry out brand consultancies, but is balanced with more wholesome activities like reading, painting, cooking, hiking, cycling, tennis, and yoga. All whilst continuing to fail at learning Spanish properly.

Patrick Lopes | Marketing Executive | Start date: 2021

Patrick started at KI as Marketing Assistant in December 2021 working closely with the Marketing Manager. In his spare time, Patrick is passionate about football, travelling, cooking and going out to new places with friends.

Helaku Whyles | Creative Marketing Executive | Start date: 2022

Helaku holds a true passion for innovative design and the future of design aesthetics. Specialising in brand design, creative direction, design consultancy and sound design; including a fine art background and several years of research experience as a freelance designer.

Philippa Goodall | Executive Assistant, Showroom & HR Manager | Start date: 2019

Philippa joined KI in 2019 as Executive Assistant to Jonathan Hindle (Managing Director, EMEA). In addition, she is the Showroom and HR Manager for the London office, working closely with the Senior Operations, HR & Showroom Assistant. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and loves all aspects of fitness and sport, mainly consisting of CrossFit and will always choose to walk everywhere if she can!

Amy Huke | Senior Operations, HR & Showroom Assistant | Start date: 2018

Amy joined KI in 2018 as the Operations Assistant and has since progressed to the Senior Operations, HR & Showroom Assistant whilst working closely with the Executive Assistant, Showroom & HR Manager. Outside of work, Amy is a qualified personal trainer so you will always find her in the gym. She loves spending time with her family & friends and travelling to new places.

Juliana Akinlade | Showroom Assistant | Start date: 2023

Juliana joined KI in 2023 as a showroom assistant. She previously worked at Soho House, private members club where she gained reputable experience in hospitality and front of house service. She has also created a successful Wellness Brand which she sells on Amazon. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, travelling and socialising with friends and family. She has a passion for Art and Design and is currently studing an online course in UX Research & Design.