Meet the Team

Any business is only as good as the people that that work within it...

Everyone is an individual and when working in a team environment we want that individuality to be at the forefront so new ideas, thoughts and perspectives are shared.

We look to harness these differences to make sure we get creative thinking running throughout the business.

Meet the Executive Board

Theresa Spencer

Managing Director

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Theresa Spencer
Managing Director

Started out as a mathematician, predictably became a Chartered Accountant with PWC, spent time in multiple finance roles in sectors such as Entertainment, Pharma Consultancy, Office Products, Contact Centres before joining Ring in 2016 as Finance Director. Stepped up to become MD of Ring in April 2020, just as the pandemic started – a journey and a half but always proud and privileged to lead our Ring family!

What is or are your nickname(s)?

T, Tree, Trop, Tich

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Family time all the way – particularly if wine is included!

What is the nature of your current role?

As MD I have to think about our whole business all of the time which means there is a lot of thinking to do! It goes from highest level strategy through to everyday operational topics but always with an eye on the importance of our people.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Every single day is totally different! There is always something new and unexpected to consider.

Why Ring?

I was initially attracted to Ring for the spirit, drive and personality I sensed during my 14 hour selection process! Having now been here for 6 years I can say that what I sensed initially is what I continue to feel every day, every week. Ring is the most authentic, customer and people focused business I have worked in.

What have you learned about life from kids?

From the mouth of my 13 year old daughter – “perfect is not a word”

One passion or 10 hobbies?

My family and my work are my main passions – although I do like to run, do a jigsaw, go shopping

Pet hate?

Weak handshakes and people who don’t put lids on Tupperware before putting it away

What is your home town famous for?

Hendersons Relish – wonderful stuff!

Andy Gratton

Finance Director

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Andy Gratton
Finance Director

I started work in 2004 with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the audit department. After gaining the Institute of Chartered Accountants qualification I moved into industry & developed a real interest in business. I later worked for multiple private equity companies before joining RING (part of the ams-OSRAM group) in 2020 (just in time for the pandemic).

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Had a couple in my younger years but both have not stayed with me fortunately!

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Spending time with my family; kids Zak (4), Dan (2) and latest due November 2022 (name TBC). Playing golf & cricket. Going fishing. Cycling. Riding motorbikes (although I had to sell my motorbike to make room for a tumble dryer when Zak came along – true story!)

What is the nature of your current role?

Supporting Theresa and the RING board in developing and executing on all strategic, commercial, operational & people related topics.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

We have a fantastic team at RING and I really enjoy working with a varied group of people who are all very intelligent & motivated in our shared mission to surprise & delight our customers. We have fantastic customers & suppliers which makes the day-to-day operations interesting & enjoyable.

Why Ring?

As part of the ams-OSRAM group RING is well positioned to fulfil its clearly defined strategic objectives. We continue to invest in developing new products & technologies which makes it exciting to be part of a company which is ambitious and successful. Having access to the ams-OSRAM group is great as there are many fantastic people & resources from which we can draw upon to give our Leeds based business a competitive edge.

What have you learned about life from kids?

It’s only as easy as riding a bike... once you know how to ride a bike?

Pet hate?

When people leave the lights on in an empty room / when I clean the family car and then within 24 hours it’s a tip again.

What is your home town famous for?

The crooked spire.

Tania Cressey

Head of Human Resources

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Tania Cressey
Head of Human Resources

Spent a number of years in HR roles within manufacturing, starting with household detergents in Manchester then moving to aerosols in Hull with Robert McBride. Moved to Northern Foods in Milton Keynes then ABF, becoming HR Director for Speedibake in Northampton/Wakefield then moving internally to become Head of HR Manufacturing for British Sugar in Peterborough. Became Head of HR for Hoyer, a logistics business specialising in tanker deliveries, eg fuel for major oil companies. Joined RING as Head of HR in February 2021.

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Tintin

What is your favourite activity out of work?

If I were to choose one only, it would be enjoying music in various different ways.

What is the nature of your current role?

Providing an HR service to my internal customers within the business and working with the EB to support the delivery of our people strategy. It covers all elements of the employee lifecycle, starting with recruitment and is focused on developing high performing, highly motivated teams who work together to make our business a success, both now and in the future. Key areas of focus are: communication; pay/benefits; learning & development; succession planning; recognition; wellbeing; policy development and legal compliance.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The people I work with, the variety and tackling the many challenges.

Why Ring?

The “Ring Spirit” was sold to me at interview and the role was appealing due to the commitment to a strategy which had a focus on delivering the people agenda. I enjoy having the ability to make a difference in a relatively small organisation, but with the support of a much larger parent company.

What have you learned about life from kids?

Never to stop having fun!!

One passion or 10 hobbies?

My greatest passion is food … making it, eating it and talking about it.

Pet hate?

Dogs barking

What is your home town famous for?

Black Puddings

Jeremy Rochfort

Business Unit Director – Trade Aftermarket Sales

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Jeremy Rochfort
Business Unit Director – Trade Aftermarket Sales

Joined RING in June 2020, having worked at Autoglass for 19 years in various sales and leadership roles.

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Jezza

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Spending time with the family, gardening and playing bowls.

What is the nature of your current role?

Managing the Trade function at Ring Automotive, including Trade Aftermarket, Trade Specialist and Ring Carnation.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Meeting customers and winning new business. Launching a new initiative that adds value to RING and the customer e.g. the new Workshop Solutions Van

Why Ring?

Super talented people and a culture where we can all make a difference. Good ideas can be turned into a reality

What have you learned about life from kids?

Kids are the ultimate de-stresser. If I’ve had a bad day, spending time with the kids is the best way to switch-off

One passion or 10 hobbies?

One passion

Pet hate?

Negativity

What is your home town famous for?

I live in a very small village called Willougby on the Wolds with a primary school, church and village hall. There’s no pub. The village has a long history stretching back to Roman times when the Roman staging post of Vernemetum was sited close by. One of the minor battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Willoughby Field, took place close to the village in July 1648

Henry Bisson

Marketing Director

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Henry Bisson
Marketing Director

Started of on a graduate scheme for Francis Ward Ltd, a plastic manufacturing firm, as their Marketing Executive. After 3 years and gaining a lot of experience across marketing functions I joined Ring Automotive in 2007. Since then, I have held different positions in the marketing function as the business and department has grown

What is or are your nickname(s)?

There are lots – H, Posh (even though I am not), Biss

What is your favourite activity out of work?

In general playing or watching sport, but I do like cold water swimming in the sea.

What is the nature of your current role?

As Marketing Director, I have responsibility for making sure the marketing team support the sales teams’ objectives with engaging and targeted activities across advertising, social media, events, PR, instore and online point of sale and digital content. The team is also responsible for looking after the brand positioning of OSRAM, RING and NEOLUX within the markets we operate in.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

There is always something new happening. The business never stays still and as a result creates a lot of energy which is great atmosphere to be around. The culture of the place is also a key factor. There is sense that everyone wants to pull together and work together. A very strong team ethos.

Why Ring?

Ring is constantly looking at new opportunities, there is a sense of anything is possible.

What have you learned about life from kids?

Eat toast upside down, it is where you have spread the flavour.

One passion or 10 hobbies?

10 hobbies – variety is the spice of life.

Pet hate?

Litter. No need for it.

What is your home town famous for?

Cider and Cricket – a great combination in summer.

Phil Donnelly

Retail Business Unit Director

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Phil Donnelly
Retail Business Unit Director

I’ve worked in various sales roles for most of my career and having been in my previous company for 18 years I took the opportunity to look for a new challenge…I was lucky enough to find Ring 7 years ago and have never looked back since.
Initially I joined as a National Account Manager within the Retail Business Unit and looked after several key customers for about 3 years. I was then promoted into the Directorship role and now sit on the Executive board with the rest of the Ring leadership team.

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Donno

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Without a doubt its Carp angling! My perfect weekend is camping out by a lake in the countryside with my faithful fishing buddy Pablo (He’s my French bulldog)
I’ve bored many a people at Ring with tales of fish I’ve not managed to catch….

What is the nature of your current role?

So, I have the pleasure of heading up the Retail Business unit and am responsible for delivery of the annual sales budget within our major National Account customers. I’m known for unashamedly describing team ‘Retail’ as being small but perfectly formed as well as high performing. Our team comprises Dan, Martin & Darren (our National Account Managers) along with Kim & Ela (our Coordinators) who collectively make the magic happen!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The diversity of initiatives & projects to be involved in. Many businesses work in silos which is not the case here at Ring. The traditional boundaries of roles & responsibilities are blurred and that’s a good thing, both for the company and for your own personal development. Consequently, I can honestly say I’ve learnt more in the last 7 years here at Ring than I did in the previous twenty elsewhere.
We are also fast-paced and very busy which I enjoy immensely, you will certainly never be bored…..it really is a curiously addictive business!

Why Ring?

Simply put, the people & the culture. There’s a DNA that runs through our business that is sometimes hard to articulate. We have four core values that are central to everything we do whether it be our ‘one team’ approach, the ‘passion’ we have, the ‘respect’ for each other or our unwavering ‘customer focus’. If you work here though you’ll get it, in fact you’ll feel it!

What have you learned about life from kids?

Persistence... have you ever known a toddler give up trying to get their own way!

One passion or 10 hobbies?

One Passion, did I mention I like fishing? :)

Pet hate?

Lateness... punctuality is a given not a courtesy

What is your home town famous for?

I’m a Geordie born and bred so we are famous for having the best football team in the world. Well certainly some of the best supporters anyway. Newcastle have been in the wilderness for several years but hopefully this is set to change...

Nick Davy

Operation Director

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Nick Davy
After graduating in Biology, I worked for a few years as a Research Scientist with the Blood Transfusion Service. Realising the inside of a laboratory was not for me, I travelled for 18 months and on my return spent the next 5 years managing an Events and Nightclub Company. I started a move into manufacturing, working first as a Chinese Manufacturing Agent, then into purchasing for a kitchen company and then into operations for a mattress manufacturer. I am happy to have been part of the RING Team since December 2021

Director

What is or are your nickname(s)?

The whole family are collectively known as ‘The Hobbits’ due to our large feet.

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Going to a Leeds Rhinos game. I am a lifelong season ticket holder

What is the nature of your current role?

As Operations Director, I work with the Warehouse teams, Customer Services, Maintenance, QA and the Production team. I also head up the company ESG strategy.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Working across so many departments and with a big team of people that have a variety of skills and passions means it is never boring and is always busy.

Why Ring?

A progressive, innovative company that values and supports its colleagues. Collectively the team always pulls together to deliver new products with great customer service. This culture makes it a great place to work.

What have you learned about life from kids?

Whenever possible, have fun.

One passion or 10 hobbies?

10 hobbies. Any outdoor water sport – wild swimming, surfing SUP, canoeing……

Pet hate?

Dog poo bags left hanging on trees.

What is your home town famous for?

Many pubs. It’s in the top 10 towns in England with the most pubs per head. Lucky me.

Pippa Rowe-Bewick

Product Management Director

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Pippa Rowe-Bewick
Product Management Director

I started as a marketing executive at the tender age of 25 in the glamorous world of pest control before moving on to become a product manager for Russell Hobbs kettles and toasters. From there I spent 13 years at Hallmark Cards in various roles from product management to Head of Trading across everyday cards and Christmas with M&S and Morrisons.
I joined Ring in December 2018

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Pip, Pipsta and others I can’t mention

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Running and spending time with my children

What is the nature of your current role?

Leading a fantastic team to develop and launch profitable products across Ring, Osram and Sylvania

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The variety, my team and learning new things

Why Ring?

Breadth of portfolio and challenge

What have you learned about life from kids?

Time passes too quickly so cherish the moments, even if they feel rubbish at the time

One passion or 10 hobbies?

I like variety probably 10 hobbies

Pet hate?

Many but one of my biggest ones is middle lane drivers

What is your home town famous for?

I’m from a town called St Columb Major in Cornwall, whose traditional game is hurling. It dates back centuries, where you throw a silver ball around the town and run off to a town or country goal. My local claim to fame is that my family has won it several times over the years and we’re listed in the local library on the winners’ board.

Craig Gibbons

Director E-commerce UK & Ireland

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Craig Gibbons
Director E-commerce UK & Ireland

My real job starting point was in the fun world of selling packaging. I then upgraded to Sony Consumer Electronics in the UK where I developed my sales skills across a number of channels for 15 years. I joined Ring in 2014 as a National Account Manager for the Retail Business Unit working with accounts like Halfords and Amazon. Since then I have enjoyed a variety of challenges including heading up the Retail Business Unit and stepping outside of a sales specialist role to support the OSRAM acquisition of Ring in 2019 as Category Director. In Nov 20 I had the honour of becoming the E-comm Director to support the acceleration of connecting Ring more directly with the end user.

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Gibbo is the most common polite nickname. There are a number of less polite alternatives used in differing circumstances!

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Anything that includes good music, walking and escaping for weekend to spend time with family or friends.

What is the nature of your current role?

Working to establish new capability for the Ring business to support being fit for the future as the pace of change in the digital market accelerates

What do you enjoy most about your role?

There is a lot of new to learn and solve. One of the brilliant traits of the Ring business is the collaborative spirit. Once a new initiative is launched, Team Ring then step in to support the onward development making a journey full of surprises less daunting and more rewarding.

Why Ring?

A smaller business ethos with a combined family/entrepreneurial feel that presents wide scope to learn and develop beyond a specific job title or job description.

What have you learned about life from kids?

That I am painfully slow using a mobile! And from my kids that the traits in them I find irritating come from me, which does tend to make these traits a little more irritating…...

One passion or 10 hobbies?

One passion which for me would involve escaping into music

Pet hate?

Unnecessary waste, getting caught in somebody’s vape cloud……am in danger of creating quite a list here……

What is your home town famous for?

Apparently for being the “weaving capital of the world” during the Industrial Revolution. I’m not quite that old, so my association is more connected to the not so mighty Rovers and wide availability good pie, peas & gravy

Gareth Ware

Special Projects & Business Development Director

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Gareth Ware
Special Projects & Business Development Director

Completed an Internship based in the Far East, sourcing Ceramics and Glassware, then had a brief stint with Argos in Retail Management. I then found my calling and moved into “Sales” at Holts where I stayed for 10 years in various Sales, Product & Marketing roles before joining my true home Ring, which I have enjoyed thoroughly for the last 15 years.

What is or are your nickname(s)?

Not sure, ask the team at Ring, I’m sure they have some for me!

What is your favourite activity out of work?

Watching Harri my daughter competing in Netball & Athletics competitions

What is the nature of your current role?

Helping maximise Sales potential and supporting new revenue initiatives

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Every day presents a new challenge

Why Ring?

A “Great Team” and an environment that you can absolutely make a real positive difference if you want to!

What have you learned about life from kids?

A lot of things can be fixed with a cuddle!

One passion or 10 hobbies?

10 hobbies!

Pet hate?

Sprouts and Laziness

What is your home town famous for?

Oatcakes & Pottery

Meet the Team

The business is not just about the Executive Board... Everyone in the company contributes to the success of Ring. Here are examples of what other colleagues do to make Ring a success and keep on delivering for our customers.

James Shippen

Senior Marketing Executive

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James Shippen
Senior Marketing Executive

What is the Department you work in?

Marketing

How long have you worked at Ring?

Almost 18 months

Please explain what you are responsible for

One of my main responsibilities is assisting the Product team with the launch of their new products. This includes working with our photographer to take new product photos in the studio, and then shots of the product being used in various situations. For example, with one of the new tyre inflators, I was in the photos demonstrating all the features of the product, as well as a series of social media videos.
I also work with the Product Managers in piecing together the various other elements that go with a product, such as specification sheets, instruction manuals, packaging designs, web content and customer support content. I then plan the full launch of the product from who the target audience is, where we are to push the launch and when this is all to happen.
Another key responsibility I have is looking after the company Events calendar. This can involve showing our support for our customers' own events by providing 1 or 2 members of the Sales and/or Product team with a small selection of products to demonstrate, through to large-scale events such as the Commercial Vehicle Show, Automechanika and ScrewFix Live!
As part of supporting the wider Marketing, Retail and Trade Aftermarket teams, I help to supply them with as much product information as they need when talking to their customers.

What do you enjoy about your role at Ring?

The variety of the role and the opportunity to work with other team members at all levels from across the business

What is it about working at Ring that you enjoy?

There is a strong feeling of "One Team" across the whole company. There is no feeling of a "hierarchy of importance" within the business, and there is a great level of respect for your work from others.

Glynn Dawson

Supply Chain Category Manager

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Glynn Dawson
Supply Chain Category Manager

What is the Department you work in?

Supply Chain

How long have you worked at Ring?

27 yrs

Please explain what you are responsible for

Supply Chain / Procurement / Inventory of Automotive Automotive Aftermarket Lamps and ACE product groups

What do you enjoy about your role at Ring?

There are many things to enjoy including: contributing to a larger purpose, travel, supplier face to face negotiations and helping colleagues.

What is it about working at Ring that you enjoy?

We are one of the world's premier Automotive lighting businesses, we provide great opportunity for progression. Osram/Ring provide an army of support

Employee of the Quarter

We make sure we recognise the hard work of our colleagues with our 'Employee of the Quarter' awards.

This is a chance for colleagues to nominate those people in the business that they think need to be recognised for their efforts.

It is open to everyone and is great way to celebrate and recognise hard work, commitment and support.

Clare Fryer | Dave Hill | Luke Whitelaw | Simon Moorby – D2C Pick and Dispatch Team Award VIP 1st Quarter of 2023

Chris Whitham - Product Manager - Product Management VIP 1st Quarter of 2023

Scott Aveyard – Key Accounts Dispatch Manager – Operations Department VIP 1st Quarter of 2023

James Shippen | Sarah Burton (Terri Clark & Irfan Khan Working Off Site ) – Marketing Department Team Award VIP 1st Quarter of 2023

Graham Potts – Assistant QA Manager – Quality Assurance & Ruhana Mahood – Finance Apprentice – Accounts Department. (Working off site) VIP 1st Quarter of 2023

Jamie Miller – IT Support – IT Department VIP 4th Quarter of 2022

Chris Carr – Demand Planning Manager – Supply Chain Department. VIP 4th Quarter of 2022

Julie Waddington – Internal Account Handler – Customer Service Department VIP 4th Quarter of 2022

Simon Moorby – Warehouse Operative – Operations Department VIP 4th Quarter of 2022

Gary White – Fork Lift Truck Driver – Production VIP 4th Quarter of 2022

Day in the Life

Author: Pippa Rowe-Bewick
Date: 23/02/2023
Category: latest news

Wow, what a start to the year!

As I look back on the whirlwind of 2022 when we welcomed our first Chinese suppliers to Leeds for over 3 years, launched some amazing products (many of which are award-winning – (had to get that in!) and enhanced our ways of working, attended my first Automechanika in Frankfurt (my team did an amazing job selling our products on the stand) and trained our Osram and Ring colleagues, I can’t believe we’re now in 2023!!

The first weeks of 2023 have flown past – we welcomed OSR over and my new line manager joined us for a week. Henning Bohnhirst, Global Head of ACE, met with my team and we discussed how we are going to work going forward across the Group and create a global approach to our product development. It’s all very exciting as we evolve to support both Ring and Osram to achieve our ACE mission.

January and February has been a busy month for shipping our new products. We’ve got lots of exciting ones on the way – flooders, new inspection lamps (look out for colours!), trade dashcams, a Lidl dashcam for Osram (a very stressful project) and many more. These are an essential contribution to our Grow ACE strategic vision.

I can’t not mention my team, who strive to develop and deliver our fantastic productsIn our team meeting we celebrate our successes on a weekly basis and I’d like to share some of these with you all. No matter how big or small our successes are, they can make such a difference. Ones that stick out for me are: the team working together to overcome some particularly challenging issues with launching some of our products, thinking creatively to find solutions, some great customer feedback on our products as well as welcoming Chloe Huntlea to our team!