From warehousing to wedding bells – Doncaster couple share Amazon love story

Olena works at Doncaster as a senior operations manager at Amazon’s fulfilment centre, while Mike works as a senior operations manager in the Amazon Transportation Services (ATS) team at the company’s sortation centre in Leeds.

The pair first met in 2019 at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Chesterfield during launch preparations for the building in the run-up to its opening.

“We were both area managers at the time, and Mike was my onboarding buddy,” Olena recalls. “We built a friendship first and then everything else followed in 2020.”

Mike adds, “That period is one of my favourite memories. The day Olena walked into the launch room is where it all began for us.”

What’s their favourite Amazon memory?

“When we used to run shifts together, I would be in the packing department and we would play dance and electronic music playlists,” says Olena. “We would sneak in songs that were little messages to each other. No-one else knew, but we did.”

Away from work, one of the biggest milestones in their journey together came when they were married in Rhodes. The island has become a special place for the couple over the years, with regular visits turning it into a favourite retreat for family time and a chance to unwind.

“We love the island, so it made perfect sense to get married there,” Mike says. “It’s somewhere we feel completely at home and sharing our wedding day in a place that means so much to us made it even more special.”

Although they now work in different parts of the business, they still support each other every day.

“We have an hour each evening where we talk through our day,” Mike explains. “We bounce ideas off each other and it makes a big difference.”

Olena agrees. “We hold each other to high standards. Healthy competition has always helped us both.”

Mike has worked at Amazon for 15 years, joining the company’s Doncaster team as an associate during his A-Level studies in 2010. He moved from area manager to operations manager, later taking on a senior role in Doncaster. This year he began a new chapter in ATS, his first role outside customer fulfilment.

“My whole career had been in fulfilment, so moving into transportation has been an exciting learning curve,” he says. “Amazon gives you the freedom to challenge yourself in new parts of the business.”

Olena, who has a civil engineering degree from the University of Manchester, joined Amazon in 2019 after working in transport and logistics. She progressed from area manager to operations manager at the Chesterfield fulfilment centre, taking on a variety of leadership responsibilities before advancing to senior operations manager. After returning from maternity leave, she moved into her current role in Doncaster.

The couple have welcomed two children during their time at Amazon and both have made use of Amazon’s parental leave benefits. Olena took a full year of maternity leave after each baby, while Mike used the company’s six-week paternity leave and split it across two periods after their first child.

“Amazon was incredibly supportive,” Mike says. “A phased return also made a huge difference when adjusting to life as a new dad.”

Olena adds, “Because I have been through maternity twice, I know how important that support is. It can feel daunting to return after a year away, especially as teams grow and people take on new opportunities. I try to use my experience to help others return with confidence.”

Reflecting on their time at Amazon, both say the company has shaped not only their careers but their family life.

“We love Amazon,” Olena says. “The opportunities, the development and the investment in people mean you never stand still.”

Mike adds, “The growth I have experienced, from a part-time student to a senior operations manager, is something I never imagined. Amazon lets you be your authentic self and keeps challenging you. It has been an amazing journey for both of us.”

Craig Fowler, site leader at Amazon in Doncaster, said:

“We want to send our congratulations to Olena and Mike on their wedding. They are both excellent examples of what is possible at Amazon when you embrace opportunities and lead with curiosity and commitment. Their careers demonstrate how far you can go when you focus on growth and support one another. We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved and we wish their family well in everything they do.”

Amazon has created thousands of jobs in the Yorkshire area and continues to play a vital role in delivering for customers across the UK. The team in Doncaster is also active in the local community, supporting charities and organisations including Armthorpe Academy, Rotherham Hospice, and local schools. Employees regularly volunteer their time through Amazon’s community programmes, and the site has contributed thousands of pounds in donations to support education, health, and social care initiatives across the region.

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded the Multibank initiative with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. The initiative has donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham. This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.

Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.