The people behind our success. Every one of our colleagues has a crucial part to play in the Westgrove Group’s continuing growth. But our Board of Directors has had the biggest influence on our phenomenal success. Here you can find out more about them.
(Rollover an individual for more information.)
Claire McKinley-Smith - Group Operations Director
Claire's our Operations Director and the fulcrum of service delivery across the Group. Her impressive CV includes senior management roles at the Meadowhall Centre, The Trafford Centre, Westfield and Multi-Development UK.
Most recently a key strategic Director at a leading security provider, she brings a wealth of operational experience to the Group. A veritable human dynamo, Claire divides her spare time between her family and her second love, horse riding.
Steve Fives - Co-Owner/Group Managing Director
Joint owner Steve is very much about 'tomorrow': he's always striving to continuously improve his business in a corporate sense. His enthusiasm and passion for the Westgrove Group brand and its performance is notoriously infectious. In fact, it's only rivalled by his devotion to his wife Jenny and two daughters (not to mention his love for boating, travel, golf and tennis).
While his unique surname has often attracted comment, he admits "it's not easy when you're booking a table for four in a restaurant at 6pm!"
Richard Jones - Group Financial Director
Already a recent MBA graduate and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Group Financial Director Richard's currently completing a Doctorate in Succession Planning (knowledge which will cascade througout the business). His wide-ranging experience covers manufacturing, retail, corporate hospitality, construction and property, with particular success in the SME and OMB sectors.
Outside work (and academia), he enjoys travelling with his wife Michelle and spending time with their respective families in Lancashire.
Simon Whittle - Co-Owner/Group Managing Director
Simon co-founded Westgrove with Steve. He has ultimate responsibility for all things financial for the Westgrove Group, and has guided the business with great stability throughout its growth and expansion from the outset.
A dedicated family man with wife Julia and four children at home in Lancashire, Simon is also a keen lover of football, golf and anything to do with cars. He also has an uncanny knack of being first out of a taxi but last to the bar!
Rachel Faulkner - Group Business Development Director
Rachel head up our Group Business Development operation and has an impressive resume in both Sales and Marketing. Rachel has benefitted from a diverse array of both public and private sector acheivements and she brings to our Executive Team unrivalled enthusiasm and drive that cascades throughout all tiers of our business.
Her dynamism transcends into her personal life where she regularly competes in 10km runs and half marathons, the only element of her life that she does by half!