Second woman joins board of Sheffield manufacturing firm

Financial director Clare Legg, a chartered management accountant, manages the finance function. She started at the company 12 years ago.

She joins people and culture director Katrina Ritchie who became the first woman on the 10-strong board after her promotion in February.

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Clare, who has a degree in international business with French, said: “When I joined Gripple the UK accounts department team numbered five and, as Gripple grew over the years, it has grown to 17.

“I have a great team and a good structure in place capable of supporting the businesses’ growth over many years to come. I am confident that the finance team will continue to develop in line with Gripple’s global vision and to be an integral part of the wider Gripple team.”

Her responsibilities include management and financial accounting, treasury, share administration payroll and year end accounts and budgets.

Managing director, Ed Stubbs said: “Over the last 18 months Clare has done an excellent job in developing the accounting team to meet the demands of our business, now with nine subsidiaries.”

Katrina Ritchie joined the board after 20 years with the firm.

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She said: “Becoming a director is undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for me personally, but what excites me most is the central role the people and culture team has and will play in Gripple’s future.

“My focus will be to drive the people agenda globally, to embed the ‘Gripple Spirit’ and to develop our leaders to lead the Gripple way.”

Gripple was established by Hugh Facey in 1989. Today the group employs 700 and has 14 sites overseas. The most recent factory, Gripple Riverside, opened in 2017 on Carbrook Street in Attercliffe. A Gripple Automation factory is under construction, also in Attercliffe.

Turnover is £80m and the business is 100 per cent employee-owned.

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