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
July 2018

Experience
Kenny has over 30 years' experience building and growing global consumer brands. At Dr. Martens, he led the transition from private limited company to publicly listed business during the global pandemic. Prior to joining the business, Kenny was Chief Executive Officer of Cath Kidston for seven years. Before that he was President, Europe for Claire's Accessories, where he doubled profitability in two years. Kenny spent 19 years at Levi Strauss & Co where he was a key player in expanding the Levi's brand across the European region, as President, Levi's Brand EMEA and Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations. 

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY 20-YEAR-OLD PAIR OF 1460 BLACK SMOOTH MADE IN ENGLAND. THE MORE I WEAR THEM THE BETTER THEY GET."

Biography

Appointed
April 2016

Experience
Jon is an experienced CFO with over 30 years of experience in senior finance positions including within the retail sector. Prior to joining the business, Jon was the Chief Financial Officer of Avant Homes, which was successfully sold to a consortium of funds in 2015. Before that, he was Chief Financial Officer of Travelodge and was the Finance Director for both WHSmith Retail and Hodder Headline.

Jon is a Chartered Accountant.

Jon announced his retirement in April 2023 and will continue in his role as Chief Financial Officer until a suitable replacement is in place, to ensure a smooth transition for the Company.

Favourite pair of Docs

"CHURCH VINTAGE SMOOTH LEATHER MONKEY BOOTS."

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 of Softcat PLC, and Greggs plc, Trustee of The Prince's Trust, Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair of Stagecoach Group Ltd and Director of LW2019 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 of Softcat PLC, Huel Ltd, and Next Fifteen Group plc, where she also chairs their respective audit committees.

Favourite pair of Docs

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

Biography

Appointed
January 2021

Experience
lje has built a career balancing technology, creativity and leadership built on his experience of growing up in Nigeria, a world where commerce, culture and creativity are intertwined in everyday life. He is currently Senior Director, WW Retail Engagement and Marketing at Apple Inc. Prior to that, he spent 11 years at global brand consultancy Wolff Olins, where he was Chief Executive Officer of the group's offices in London, Dubai, New York and San Francisco, helping some of the world's most exciting businesses build their brands for the digital age. He is Chair of non-profit organisation charity: water and was the Chair of Trustees for Chineke!, the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority Black, Asian and ethnic minority musicians, until September 2022.

Other appointments
Senior Director at Apple Inc, Chair of charity: water.

Favourite pair of Docs

"MY CHERRY RED VEGAN LEATHER 1460S, MY FIRST AND FAVOURITE PAIR THAT I CAN WEAR WITH ANYTHING."

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 a partner at global investment firm Permira, where she is responsible for brand investing within the consumer sector. Since joining Permira in 2008, she has worked with many brands, retailers, consumer internet, and on major transactions including Permira's acquisition of Dr. Martens. 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"

Biography

Appointed
Jan 2021

Experience
Emily joined Dr. Martens in 2015 as General Counsel and became Company Secretary upon the Company listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2021.

Emily has been a member of the Global Leadership Team since joining Dr. Martens. Having led the Legal and Sustainability teams for a number of years, Emily added HR to her remit in 2022. Emily also chairs the Dr. Martens Foundation.

Prior to joining Dr. Martens, Emily held senior legal positions in large international businesses including Director Legal at Akzo Nobel global specialty chemicals in the Netherlands. She previously held other senior legal positions at Akzo Nobel n.v. and ICI plc. Emily trained and qualified as a solicitor at Linklaters, practising in the corporate department during which time she was seconded to GE Capital and BP plc. Emily was a Non-Executive Director of National Energy Action from 2015 to 2018 where she gained valuable experience being a non-executive director, and insight into the charity sector, the experience of which she utilises as Chair of the Dr. Martens Foundation.

Emily has a degree in English Law and French Law from the University of Manchester and Université de Bourgogne.

Favourite pair of Docs

"It’s got to be my shiny silver 1461s. I love them!"