Paul McDonnell

Managing Director

Paul was appointed by the Board to help take the business to the next level and beyond,  joining the team in May 2016. Building on what was already a solid base, the company has grown strongly during this time, in both the UK and Export markets. We have developed our branding, increased our focus on the needs of our customers, expanded our product development activity and have intensified our marketing communication to end users, to raise awareness across the world.

Paul brings to the business a wealth of sales, marketing and general management experience from a range of sectors including consumer durables, automotive, anti-microbial technology and vending. He has lived for much of the last 20 years in Australia, Italy, Germany and Austria..so Wales represents quite a change!

After hours Paul does his best to ‘raise’ two teenage daughters. He has become an experienced taxi driver as a result...

Susan Edwards

Director

The business was started by Susan’s mum, Ruth and it is still very much a family business. She is very proud of what her mum achieved and of how the business continues to grow from strength to strength.

Susan and the wider business believes that our strongest asset as a company is our staff and we have been able to retain a strong and loyal work force who are committed to excellent customer service and producing the best quality products.

Ruth Lee Ltd is proud to represent Welsh and British manufacturing and currently, around 65% of all business is exported to countries all around the world. We can proudly say we have sold manikins to every continent on earth!

Susan feels very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of Wales and must have the best commute to work of less than a mile!

Darren Griffiths

Head of Operations

Darren joined the company in February 2020.

With over 23 years’ experience in the retail and dairy industry, Darren understands the importance of delivering great service, ensuring that customer expectations are always met; delivered through operational excellence.

Having experience across diverse operational roles, Darren brings skills and knowledge to the Ruth Lee team which will be invaluable as we continue to grow the business.

Away from work, Darren spends much of his time as a taxi driver for his four children, going for walks with his Sprocker Spaniel and when time allows, he enjoys a drive down to Barmouth with his family for a long walk along the beach.

Gaynor Evans

Despatch Manager

Gaynor joined the company in 1998 and during that time has worked in every single department within the company! This experience within the company means that Gaynor has a knowledge of the products like no other.

Gaynor has 20 years' experience in logistics and became Despatch Manager in 2011. She is responsible for ensuring that all orders are processed correctly and that all orders are despatched within the quoted timeframe. Gaynor will always endeavour to get the best price and service for your order that she can... She won't give the business to her own husband's haulage firm if she can get a better price elsewhere!

Gaynor enjoys walking and outdoor activities and visiting her Family…..in Scotland, South Wales and London - so we think she must enjoy travelling as well!

Stuart Cheetham

National Sales Manager

Stuart joined the company in 2011 to enable the company to move forward with its strategic plans and brought with him 10 years sales and digital marketing experience. Stuart was instrumental in the implementation of the company's new IT system and CRM package and regularly mans our stand at exhibitions across the country and visits customers to give advice and demonstrations.

Stuart firmly believes that face to face contact is the key to build strong relationships with customers, much in the way that Ruth would visit Fire Services to showcase the manikins, hence why Stuart can be found visiting customers up and down the country!

Outside of work Stuart is a keen archer and petrol head, but doesn’t get much time to indulge in either hobby. As a father of 5, soon to be 6, young children (yes, you read that correctly!) he spends most of his free time ferrying them from one activity to another or indulging in a spot of DIY!

Sarah Hampson

Marketing Communications Manager

Sarah joined Ruth Lee Ltd in January 2017 and provides more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications.  

She is responsible for creating a consistent brand presence for the business and promoting our range of products, using direct marketing tactics, digital and traditional advertising and social media. Sarah also arranges our attendance at exhibitions and conferences, manages the company website and designs all of our brochures and other marketing materials. 

If that's not enough to keep her busy, Sarah is also responsible for our internal communications and also manages our social commitment projects. Find out more about those here.

When not immersed in words and pictures for Ruth Lee, Sarah enjoys photography, hiking in the beautiful North Wales countryside and is also a keen rider. She owns a horse called Luna - although Sarah argues that really, it's the other way round and that she is the slave to an opinionated 'Diva'! 

Ian McCulloch

Business Development Manager

Ian joined the team at Ruth Lee in January 2018 and brings a wealth of product development, sales and marketing experience with him having spent over 11 years living and working in Europe in Germany, France and Sweden.

His initial priorities will be focused on product development, helping develop our export business, market analysis in terms of our new products and the health care sector, as well as strategy development. 

His previous experience encompasses consumer durables and automotive sectors and he is particularly proud of developing and launching a robotic vacuum cleaner business.

Away from work, Ian enjoys cycling, walking his dog, supporting Tottenham Hotspur and watching sport of all kinds…

Ian Garner

National Field Sales Executive

Ian Joined Ruth Lee in September 2019 and brings with him a blend of experience in sales and customer support over the last 13 years.

Ian is responsible for ensuring that we are present for and visible to all of our UK Emergency Services client base. His job is to travel the highways and byways of the UK to show and demonstrate our full product range to our Emergency Service clients. Ian works with our customers to understand their diverse training needs and ensure that we are able to offer practical and, above all, realistic tools to help them.

When at home, Ian is a family man who enjoys weekends away with his wife and son in (occasionally) sunny Abersoch. He can always be relied on to deliver a low quality pun whenever the opportunity presents itself and, to his wife’s dismay, is learning to play the acoustic guitar!

Jacob Davies

Administration and Customer Service Specialist

Jacob joined Ruth Lee in November 2020 to assist the team in continuing to provide an excellent standard of service to all our customers.

Jacob will be responsible for processing orders and quote requests, handling a wide range of customer enquiries, and ensuring that everything is running smoothly behind the scenes. Jacob will be able to help you find the best manikin for your training needs and he will see your enquiry through from quotation to delivery.

Outside of work Jacob enjoys hiking and mountain biking. Jacob is also an avid baker, much to the delight of his colleagues!