The workplace supplies sector has long been characterised by its male dominance, with progress towards gender equality moving at a painstakingly slow pace. Recognising this, Workplace360 – following in the footsteps of its sister publication OPI and its Influential Women feature last year – set out to identify the wonder women making waves in the UK industry.
To compile a comprehensive and representative list, we sought recommendations and nominations from across the sector. The results were surprising – yielding more names than initially expected, underscoring the significant yet often under-recognised contribution of women in our industry.
Not every person put forward for consideration made the cut and there were plenty of discussions between the W360 team as to who should make the final selection. Various factors, including personal modesty or career changes, also meant the list was pared down to 30, but there are aspirations for an even more expansive list in our next Influential Women feature in 2026.
The criteria for inclusion were multifaceted – emphasising leadership, influence within their companies and/or the broader industry and advocacy and support for the independent dealer community, among many other considerations.
Influential and inspiring
The 30 pioneering women celebrated in this feature are not just reshaping the leadership landscape but also at the forefront of driving innovation, sustainability and gender equality. Their influence, often overlooked, is paving the way for a more resilient future for our sector.
This feature aims to shed light on these remarkable women and their achievements. Hailing from diverse backgrounds and wielding a vast array of expertise, they are propelling their companies and the industry at large towards new horizons.
Their leadership extends beyond operational success to include championing environmental initiatives, embracing innovative business practices and cultivating inclusive workplaces designed for everyone.
The impact of these women is magnified by their commitment to mentorship and advocacy for the next generation of female leaders. Recognising and understanding the barriers women often face in climbing the corporate ladder, they are actively working to dismantle these obstacles and lay the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable future.
As we move forward, it is crucial to continue supporting and amplifying the voices of women in workplace supplies, recognising their contributions as fundamental to our sector’s growth and evolution.
Workplace360’s most influential women in the UK workplace supplies industry
Helen Batstone, Commercial Director, Office Power
Blending creativity with data-led insights, Helen Batstone is currently working with independent dealers to help shape their go-to-market and growth plans using cutting-edge software and services. Always keen to be an early adopter, she uses the latest trends and technology to help navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.
With a background rooted in the fashion world, her career transitioned into the furniture sector, where she adapted her skills to work across various roles and departments, gaining a holistic understanding of the industry. After a brief stint building her own start-up and working in e-commerce, she now advises other entrepreneurs and consults on digital marketing in her spare time. Having worked in largely male-dominated industries, she is committed to empowering and inspiring women.
Bev Boden, Finance Director, Advantia
Bev Boden’s career showcases a deep commitment to both the workplace supplies industry and community service. After earning a BA Dual Hons in Pure Mathematics and Economics from Sheffield University, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross in Birmingham, working there until 1992. She then joined TSB Bank as a Statutory, Tax & Financial Accountant, before moving to the family business and becoming a Director of Costs Consortium (now Advantia) in 1994.
Boden is also a Methodist Minister and spent ten years working part-time in the Walsall Circuit alongside her role at Advantia. She retired from the ministry in 2021. Beyond her professional achievements, Boden has dedicated herself to various charitable endeavours and holds several trustee and committee roles in educational and social welfare organisations, including the Mercian Multi Academy Trust, Linking Lives UK, Ablewell Advice Walsall and Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club. She is also co-leader of The Bereavement Journey and an accompanist for Student Ministers training at Queens Foundation in Birmingham. In 2020, she was recognised with a BOSS Inspirational Individual award.
Jeanette Caswell, Managing Director, Office Friendly
With over 25 years of extensive experience from her roles in both reseller and wholesaler environments – including positions at Viking, Office Depot, Spicers, SPOT Group and Staples Solutions – Jeanette Caswell has a rich background that spans the breadth of the industry. Her approach to leadership is characterised by her active participation in the sector, where she has made significant contributions to market insight, mentoring, coaching and fostering talent development. She is a staunch believer in the power of a positive mindset and a can-do philosophy, encouraging individuals to recognise and harness their talents.
Since joining Office Friendly in 2021, Caswell has been instrumental in advocating for dealers to adopt a much wider product offering and diversify with a consultative approach. A key focus of her leadership is on nurturing a sense of community among all the dealer group’s stakeholders and members.
Marie Challis, Central Customer Service Director, Antalis UK
Over more than two decades, Marie Challis has demonstrated her adaptability and depth of expertise across various roles within Antalis UK, ranging from internal and external sales to sales management. In January 2024, she stepped into the role of Central Customer Service Director, leveraging her extensive experience to spearhead customer-centric initiatives and enhance service delivery within the company.
Beyond her professional achievements, Challis is equally committed to giving back to the industry. She has been an active supporter of the BOSS Business Supplies Charity, dedicating her time and energy to contribute positively to its initiatives. Notably, in 2015, she refreshed the charity’s fundraising approach by introducing a spa element to its events. This creative addition opened up opportunities for a wider audience, including both females and males, who may have been less inclined to participate in traditional events such as the Golf Day.
Carol Clarke, Finance Director, JGBM
Carol Clarke’s journey from a Chartered Accountant at Grant Thornton to a central figure at JGBM illustrates a career defined by expertise, versatility and leadership. Her shift from practice to industry, initially serving as a financial controller and finance director for local SMEs, set the stage for her notable input at JGBM over the past 11 years.
Upon joining JGBM, Clarke’s skills and vision quickly led to her appointment to the board. Her role has expanded to encompass HR and her accountancy expertise and commercial acumen have been instrumental in driving the company’s growth. Her efforts have helped JGBM achieve multiple Wholesaler of the Year awards at both the UK and European levels. Clarke’s own accomplishments were recognised in 2022 when she was awarded Professional of the Year at the BOSS Awards.
Debbie Clayton, Director, CTS Wholesale
Transitioning from a career in travel and promotions, Debbie Clayton joined CTS Wholesale in 2006, alongside (now) husband and fellow Director Steve Clayton. Starting out when CTS consisted of just Steve and another staff member, she has since worked across all areas from warehouse to sales, embodying a self-driven, problem-solving ethos.
Leveraging extensive customer service experience from a blue-chip travel firm and sales expertise gained from various sectors as a promotions consultant, she has been instrumental in the company’s expansion.
In addition to onboarding large customers and buying groups, Clayton played a key role in making CTS the first compatible supplier featured on Stock in the Channel’s website, elevating the business to new heights. Her people-oriented approach has been crucial in motivating the team, recognising their strengths and exploring growth opportunities with dealers.
Helen Colton, Head of Marketing and Supplier Relations, Product Promotion Services
Initially qualifying as an accountant at 23, Helen Colton shifted her focus to the retail sector, gaining extensive experience before entering the business supplies industry in 2013 as a Retail Account Manager for Fellowes Brands. In 2017, she moved to evo as Group Product Marketing Director, later becoming Marketing Director at VOW and contributing to the business development team, focusing on new product and category opportunities.
In June 2023, Colton took on her role at the newly acquired Product Promotion Services, aiming to streamline the business supplies ecosystem to facilitate seamless connections between manufacturers, resellers and end users.
She received the Account Manager of the Year award from VOW in 2017 and in 2019 was honoured with the BOSS Professional of the Year award. She is also a committee member of the Society of Old Friends and BOSS North.
Kelly de Silva, Group Marketing Director, OT Group
Kelly de Silva was appointed Group Marketing Director of OT Group in 2019. She joined the new entity from SPOT Group following the acquisition of several of its components by Grenadier Holdings (formally Paragon Group). She has led the successful rebranding of nine separate companies into the single OfficeTeam identity. In July 2022, she led the relaunch of the Spicers name in the wholesale channel and, most recently, in November 2023, the rebrand of OT Group’s contract division under the Office Depot brand.
De Silva is responsible for all communications for both end-user and wholesale channels, advancing innovative propositions through to commercial success. Over the past two years, de Silva and her team have implemented a new ESG strategy, resulting in an EcoVadis silver award. She is passionate about transforming OT Group’s marketing strategy from a traditional model to a data-driven, technology-led programme and developing her teams to become revenue drivers rather than just support functions for sales.
Stephanie Gentle, Managing Director, Beaverswood
Stephanie Gentle’s career trajectory showcases her evolution within the business supplies sector. Starting at Office Depot in the early 2000s, she spent 12 years in various sales and marketing roles before moving to Banner as Marketing Director.
In 2016, Gentle ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing a marketing strategy service for SMBs across diverse industries, enhancing her skills in both marketing and business strategy. In 2019, her experience proved invaluable when she joined IWS Group, where she is Group Marketing Director as well as Managing Director of the company’s Beaverswood division.
Wendy Goodman, National Account Manager, Beeswift
Wendy Goodman’s passion for the PPE industry was sparked nearly two decades ago while managing a multinational client at Staples Advantage. This enthusiasm has continued to flourish at Beeswift, where she has been for over six years.
In this ever-evolving sector, she stays abreast of changes in regulations, certifications and advancements in product technology and design. Always with a positive ‘cup half full’ mentality, her energy and dedication enable her to communicate and educate dealers effectively on products, the PPE sector and Beeswift. With a major sustainability message from the sector, Goodman is currently on a drive to emphasise the significance of innovative fabrics, recycling and circular practices.
Julie Hadley, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, evo
Passionate about delivering all aspects of sustainability in the workplace, Julie Hadley strongly believes that all businesses can reshape their thinking to make a social and environmental difference alongside business as usual. When Hadley started out at evo in 2022, she already had 15 years of business supplies industry experience under her belt, having worked for Banner, Staples and Lyreco.
Her love of needs analysis and big-picture solutions was sparked in her first role, which involved liaising between a software developer and artists’ managers in a classical music company.
She stepped from this into an e-commerce role at Lyreco and quickly moved towards senior positions within quality and environmental management, developing a reputation for providing sound sustainability practices to customers and colleagues alike.
Karly Haley, Marketing Director, Superstat
Karly Haley has dedicated her 28-year career at Superstat to helping independent dealers prosper. With a degree in Business Management, she quickly rose through the ranks, from a marketing assistant to the leader of a division known as Office Biz by the age of 24. Thriving on the challenge of being responsible for her own P&L at such a young age, she led her team to rapid success and, in 2000, received the BOSS Young Professional of the Year award.
By 28, Haley had earned a directorship, playing a critical role in Superstat’s strategic direction and leadership. Haley is a vocal advocate for positive mental health in the workplace, particularly in addressing challenges faced by women.
Emma Halldearn, Commercial Director, UKOS
Emma Halldearn has over two decades of expertise in workplace products and services, navigating the industry from both vendor and dealer perspectives. Beginning her journey at ACCO Brands, she now holds the position of Commercial Director at UKOS, driving diversification efforts that have successfully propelled the company into new product categories and market segments for over 15 years.
With a multifaceted role encompassing supply chain management, marketing, product development and bid and tender team leadership, Halldearn remains dedicated to customer satisfaction and effective consolidation solutions. She is an industry pioneer when it comes to sustainability, earning UKOS recognition as the Sunday Times Best Green Company as early as 2010. She is currently guiding UKOS’ pursuit of Planet Mark certification as part of a wider net zero strategy which has already seen UKOS move to a low carbon logistics model.
Recently, Halldearn has been leading the development of UKOS’ Partner Programme, an innovative project that seeks to deliver supply chain consolidation within our industry.
Sian Haskell, Director of Marketing, Integra Business Solutions
Sian Haskell joined Integra Business Solutions in 1997 and has been Marketing Director since 2014. With over 27 years in the industry, Haskell’s expertise as a marketing professional has been instrumental in developing and implementing the group’s marketing strategies.
Her efforts have been central to supporting independent dealers in expanding their market share through innovative solutions. A key achievement under her leadership includes the successful rebranding of Initiative, Integra’s own brand, alongside the introduction of sustainability platforms aimed at guiding members towards achieving a net zero model.
Haskell’s collaborative approach to leadership and project management abilities have consistently delivered measurable results and driven business growth. She is a great advocate for customer excellence and the independent dealer channel.
Julie Hawley, Executive Director – Finance, YPO
Julie Hawley is Executive Director of Finance for YPO, a publicly owned buying organisation supplying products and services to public sector organisations. Her role also encompasses people services and business change where culture is a priority of any transformation.
Hawley began her career in the office products industry in 1990, working for Kingfield Wholesale Office Supplies (now part of VOW), became Managing Director of Office Friendly in 2016 and recently became the first female chair of the BOSS Federation.
She was named BOSS Awards Professional of the Year in 2018 and European Office Products Awards Professional of the Year in 2019. Hawley has a passion for growth, supporting individuals to realise their full potential with a focus on performance through collaboration.
Victoria Hilton, Director of Sales, Exertis Supplies
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades in distribution, Victoria Hilton has left an indelible mark on the industry. Her journey, which included forays into dentistry and data management, led to her role at Exertis Supplies in 2013. Over the past 11 years, she has been influential in shaping the trajectory of the company alongside the senior leadership team.
Hilton’s appointment as Director of Sales in April 2019 marked a significant milestone in her career. In this capacity, she spearheads the sales and customer service functions, with a relentless focus on supporting independent dealers through Exertis’s expansive product range. She finds immense satisfaction in nurturing and empowering her team and witnessing their growth in knowledge, capability and responsibility.
In addition, Hilton champions diversity and individuality, which has seen her celebrate with the team following accolades for its extensive work on diversity and inclusion policies. Exertis was also recently named BOSS Wholesaler of the Year 2023. She exemplifies resilience, leadership and a steadfast dedication to excellence in the distribution industry.
Simone Hindmarch, co-founder & Managing Director, Commercial
Simone Hindmarch’s journey from a Commonwealth Games swimming champion to a leading figure on the business products stage is marked by her unique blend of determination and creativity. As the co-founder and Managing Director of Commercial, she has steered the company on a path of innovation that is deeply intertwined with social and environmental responsibility.
Her passion for sustainability has had a significant impact not only within Commercial but also among its customers, supply chain partners and the broader communities the reseller interacts with. Hindmarch’s leadership style is characterised by her ability to inspire and unite her teams, positioning Commercial as both a challenger and disruptor in the workplace supplies sector.
Kristine Humphreys, Commercial Director, Avery UK
Kristine Humphreys has made a significant mark since joining the company in June 2020, initially as Marketing Manager before advancing to her current role as Commercial Director in April 2022. Despite being relatively new to the industry, Humphreys brings a wealth of experience from over 17 years in the FMCG sector, including international roles across Asia-Pacific and Northern Europe with renowned companies such as P&G, Ferrero, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson.
Humphreys’ diverse professional and cultural background has equipped her with a unique skill set and a broad business outlook, influencing her leadership and management approach at Avery. She is passionate about promoting inclusion and harnessing diversity of thinking and perspectives in the workplace. Her efforts in her previous role before joining Avery to challenge harmful stereotypes in advertising earned her recognition in the company’s Global DE&I awards. At Avery, Humphreys continues to champion these values.
Amy Hutchinson, CEO, BOSS Federation
Amy Hutchinson breathed new life into UK trade association BOSS Federation when she stepped up as CEO in 2019, having previously served as Marketing Director at the British Printing Industries Federation, which is closely linked with BOSS.
Her tenure has featured considerable challenges, including everything from Brexit and COVID to the current cost-of-living crisis affecting member businesses. Under her leadership, Hutchinson promotes the ‘Better together’ mantra, focusing on engaging, educating, supporting and uniting the workplace and business supplies sector.
Asmana Iftakhar, People & Culture Director, Lyreco UK & Ireland
As People & Culture Director at Lyreco UK & Ireland, Asmana Iftakhar plays a pivotal role in shaping the careers of 1,500 employees, covering aspects from talent acquisition and people development to sustainability and more. Her commitment towards creating inclusive workplaces and promoting wellbeing have positioned Lyreco as a leader in these areas, earning accolades such as the BOSS Awards for Diversity & Inclusion and Best Employer for Mental Well-being.
Passionate about people development, Iftakhar leads by example and matches a rich background in various industries with professional memberships including the British Psychological Society.
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Institute of Leadership and Management, as well as holding a Bachelor’s, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Human Resources Management. Her dedication to personal development is evident in her pursuit of an ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching & Mentoring, reflecting her desire to empower others who want to grow their career.
Sarah Laker, owner, Stationery Supplies
Sarah Laker’s jump from nursing to stationery entrepreneurship showcases her resilience, determination and strong sense of community. She ventured into retail with the opening of her first stationery shop over 18 years ago.
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Laker acquired a second stationery business, motivated not just by business prospects but also by a deep-seated desire to create a supportive workplace for her daughter’s mental wellbeing. Throughout COVID, she raised awareness of the challenges faced by independent stationery shops, earning media recognition across prominent UK platforms.
Laker’s leadership transcends her businesses. In 2023, she was entrusted with overseeing National Stationery Week, an event that brought together industry players. A keen proponent of community and collaboration, she actively supports her local area and fellow independent retailers. Her efforts have earned her not only multiple BOSS Independent Retailer awards but also recognition for her charitable work.
Rachael Lewis, Sales Operations Director, OT Group
With a background in retail, Rachael Lewis has rapidly made her mark in the industry despite her relatively recent entry. Lewis started as Head of Commercial Finance and Pricing for Spicers in 2019, before becoming Head of Pricing and Margin for OT Group.
Within just 18 months, her achievements and skills at OT Group led to her promotion to Sales Operations Director at the beginning of 2022. In this capacity, she works closely with the sales team to spearhead growth and enhance margin optimisation, playing a crucial role in cross-departmental collaborations to elevate the customer experience.
With her natural leadership ability, Lewis is also keen to develop young talent. She became co-Chair of the BOSS Leaders of the Future (LOTF) Committee in 2022, where she has been instrumental in organising and hosting impactful webinars and conferences for the LOTF community.
Samantha Rylands, Head of Marketing, Durable UK
Sam Rylands brings a wealth of experience from the education and defence sectors to her role as Head of Marketing at Durable UK, a position she’s excelled in since 2022. An experienced marketing leader, change manager and team builder, her primary role involves launching Durable’s range of workplace solutions to the UK market.
In addition, she is a key contributor to leading change within both the business and the wider industry. This, she finds, is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of her job. Upon joining Durable, Rylands quickly realised our sector is undergoing rapid transformation to meet new customer demands. This has presented plenty of opportunities to implement creative and progressive ideas, which she looks forward to continuing.
Keeley Shepherd, Key Account Manager, Consumer Business Group, 3M Northern Europe
Keeley Shepherd has 28 years’ experience leading successful teams to director level within the retail and business supplies channels. She is focused on cultivating a growth mindset through strategic planning and mental resilience – developed by understanding a team’s assets and playing to their strengths.
Renowned for her ability to spot new business opportunities, drive channel growth and adapt to changing market trends, Shepherd is recognised as a results-oriented leader. Her commitment to mentoring the next generation of business leaders highlights her dedication to professional development and leadership.
Believing there’s no such word as ‘can’t’, her ethos is always about raising the bar and aiming for the next level of personal or professional growth. Indeed, she is shortly moving on to the next chapter, as she is set to join ExaClair as Head of Commercial Sales in mid-April.
Louise Shipley, Head of European Marketing – Workplace Health Solutions, Fellowes Brands
Louise Shipley has been with Fellowes Brands for 21 years. As Head of Marketing, she has built the Workplace Health Solutions division for the vendor in Europe. She began by focusing on ergonomic accessories, always with an eye on countering ‘ergo washing’ in our industry.
In line with Fellowes’ emphasis on education around health and wellbeing in the office environment, Shipley launched ‘Professor Ergo’ to help communicate the benefits of using the correct equipment in the workplace. Other notable achievements include the ‘4 Zone Approach’, which demystified European display screen legislation; plus ‘Emma the Work Colleague of the Future’, which starkly demonstrated the detrimental health impacts of poor working habits.
Recently, she headed up the shift of product development responsibility for the category to the European team. The first product launch from this team, Breyta, is a range of compact, portable ergonomic accessories with sustainable attributes.
Viv Slater, Managing Director, Banner
Beginning her career in the business supplies sector at Guilbert UK, followed by several years at office2office, Viv Slater left the industry for a while, taking on various consulting and project management roles. She returned in 2015 as Corporate Sales Director at Banner – part of evo – where she spearheaded substantial growth and the successful acquisition and integration of Staples UK in 2020.
In February 2023, she was promoted to Managing Director of Banner. In this role, her focus is on driving excellent customer service and profitable sales growth, aiming to reinforce the reseller’s standing as a first-choice partner for public and private sector customers in the UK and Ireland.
Jessica Stott, E-commerce & Marketing Director, Pukka Pads
Jessica Stott has had a remarkable journey of growth and adaptation at Pukka Pads. After joining in 2017 in a sales support role, she quickly advanced to become an online account manager. The knowledge and experience gained in this position gave her keen insight into what the industry needed from stationery and an appreciation of the importance of an online operation. Her foresight and understanding of e-commerce proved pivotal when the pandemic necessitated a re-evaluation of Pukka Pads’ route to market. Stott led the development and implementation of a D2C platform and established Amazon seller and vendor accounts across multiple territories.
As E-commerce & Marketing Director, Stott’s role continues to evolve, managing multiple sales platforms primarily in the UK and the US. Her responsibilities also include planning, executing and attending retail shows in both regions. Her deep knowledge of the company’s product portfolio and operations has been instrumental in driving the vendor into new markets.
Kim Thurgood-Brown, Senior Business Development Manager, Exertis Supplies
With a 37-year tenure in the business supplies sector, Kim Thurgood-Brown has witnessed substantial evolution within the industry and broader B2B trading landscape. Although her career started in global exports, she swiftly transitioned into marketing, working on own-label range development and producing direct mail publications for UK dealers.
Today, Thurgood-Brown’s extensive industry experience spans various areas, including marketing, sales, systems and operations, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the supply chain.
Five years ago, she joined Exertis Supplies to enhance the company’s early business development strategy in becoming a credible business supplies wholesaler. Thurgood-Brown is now part of the senior leadership team and also chairs the wholesaler’s Sustainability Steering Group.
Flo Turak, Head of Marketing, Egan Reid
In her 20 years with Egan Reid, multi-skilled marketing specialist Flo Turak has been at the heart of every stage of its evolution into a leading provider of single-source procurement for the workplace. She is proudest of the dealer’s successful expansion into education supplies and equipment, culminating in its strongest back-to-school campaign yet in 2023.
Turak relishes the challenges her role presents and the vision and versatility required in planning and delivering the company’s diversification, growth and sustainability strategy. Her responsibilities span campaign and content creation, design, branding, product and data management, supplier engagement and more – all handled with an unwavering ‘nothing’s impossible’ mindset.
Elisabete Wells, Regional Marketing Director, ACCO Brands UK & Ireland
Elisabete Wells celebrates a decade at ACCO Brands UK & Ireland this spring. Throughout her time with the vendor, Wells has played a central role in steering its marketing strategy through major transitions, including the acquisition of Esselte Leitz in 2017. This move introduced four new brands and thousands of products into the ACCO family while pivoting from a European marketing model to a UK-focused one.
In response to the post-COVID shift, she has been instrumental in reorienting ACCO towards supporting hybrid workers, ensuring the company’s product solutions stay relevant to the needs of the workforce, both today and in the future.
As a member of the ACCO UK Leadership Team for six years, Wells has helped shape the company’s go-to-market strategies across sales, marketing and operations functions. She recently joined the global ACCO Women network – ACCO Women Partnership for Success – on its mission to empower, develop and support the continued success of ACCO Brands’ female employees through education, training, mentoring and philanthropic opportunities. Wells is deeply passionate about supporting and guiding female colleagues and women in the wider industry in breaking the glass ceiling and fulfilling their potential.
