Our People

Tony joined Michelmersh as Non-Executive Director in November 2020 and was appointed Chair in May 2024. He is the Co-Founder and a Director of Tessera Investment Management, a strategic advisory firm offering specialist transaction support to organisations undertaking corporate development activity. Prior to Tessera, Tony spent four years in the investment team at Marwyn Capital, an investment firm, having previously started his career within Leveraged Finance at Barclays Bank. Tony has significant experience as principal and advisor in M&A, and equity capital markets. Tony was also formerly a Non-Executive Director of Summerway Capital Plc.

Paula has extensive directorship experience and has sat on the Board of a number of prominent organisations in the property sector. Paula is a Trustee of Calthorpe Estates and a Trustee of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme. Until recently Paula was on the Board at The Crown Estate and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In her executive career, Paula was Corporate Finance and Group Reporting Director at Marks & Spencer Plc, and Chief Executive of national regeneration agency English Partnerships. Paula is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

Peter Sharp has been in the industry for over 35 years including 20 years with Michelmersh and 14 years with Ibstock Brick holding various senior positions. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying and a Member of the Institute of Directors. Peter is also on the Management Committee of Ceramics UK and is a Director of the Brick Development Association. He serves as Chair and Trustee for the Institute of Clay Workers Benevolent Fund and is a Trustee of the Institute of Clay Technology Education and Training Trust. He joined the Board in May 2011 and became Joint Chief Executive on 1 January 2016.

Ryan was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on 3 June 2021. Prior to joining the Company, he was previously Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Avon Rubber, the FTSE 250 defence engineering and manufacturing group, from April 2018. Prior to that Ryan had been Group Financial Controller for Unite Students, the FTSE 250 property group, from November 2015 having previously held other senior finance roles within the business. Ryan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and prior to joining Unite, Ryan worked for KPMG in both audit and advisory roles.