Russell Willcox, Chairman

Russell started his career as a Mechanical Engineer before crossing into Electronics and Micro-processor engineering.  An early start in Aerospace and Automotive industries, has led to a life long career in the electronics/technology sector.  Moving from Engineering to Marketing, then General Management, his focus has been on strategy, in whichever business he has been involved.  Currently Chairman of Box Technologies, an IT and services business involved in customer interface solutions, Russell also Chairs NNT, a software solutions company active in the IT security and compliance arena and is a Non Executive Director of another Software business.  With 20 years experience in the Retail, Banking, Postal and Hospitality markets, he is involved in technology strategy scoping exercises with a number of UK and International businesses.

Outside of this career, Russell has numerous interests, including his role as Chairman of Demand, He maintains an active participating interest in Skiing, cycling and Motorsport, as well as a taste for travel, languages and the arts.

Elaine Bragg

Elaine started her career in scientific research in the mid 70’s and realised the potential of the new technology of the time, personal computers, to help scientists in their work. Elaine and her husband Paul set up Adept Scientific Micro Systems to sell and support software for use in laboratories.  The company expanded over the years and now Adept Scientific PLC. turns over more than £6 million and employs over 60 people in 3 countries, supplying specialised software and hardware to scientists, engineers and researchers throughout Europe. Elaine has hands on experience of every role in the company from finance to packing in the warehouse, and from sales to support and training. She is still actively involved as Commercial Director.

Elaine is also involved in several other small companies and has been a magistrate for several years. Elaine enjoys sailing, gardening, tennis and badminton.

Lady Hermione Frances Grimston

Hermione is the second daughter of The 6th Earl of Verulam, God-Daughter and Niece of DEMAND founders Lord and Lady Renton.

She is a founder Trustee of DEMAND, per Lord and Lady Renton’s request (only continuous standing Trustee since founding over 30 years ago)

Educated at Cranbourn Chase School, Hermione has spent time in Barcelona learning Spanish, 1957 and Paris learning French, 1958.

Moscow, British Trade Fair, Translator, 1960

New York City, Customer Support, Transworld Airlines, 1961-1965

Hermione was also a Trustee of The Ministering Children’s League, a Grimston family charity (subsequently closed with assets transferred to DEMAND)

The Hon. Clare Renton

Clare is the daughter of the founder of DEMAND, she is a lawyer, Mencap volunteer worker and has three grown up children.

Clare’s professional practice includes Family Law including international child abduction, matrimonial finance, including international jurisdictional issues and practice, inheritance.

She is an author, lecturer and regular contributor to legal journals.

In 2011 she became a  Fellow  of  International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Anthony Soothill

Anthony is a communications engineer by trade (M.Eng (hons) Communications Engineering, University of London).  He is currently the Head of the CEO’s Office at Telefónica UK Limited (the parent company of O2) where he is also Head Business Architect and also sits on the Tesco Mobile Board Audit Committee.

In the last twenty years he has held a wide range of operational and strategic positions across the O2 business including: Head of IT, Head of Finance Operations, Head of Wholesale (set up Tesco Mobile), Head of Corporate Customer Service and VP Group Strategy.  As a result, he has a broad strategic perspective, holds key commercial experience and is driven by results.

Anthony has been a Trustee of DEMAND since 2005 and since 2010 has been the Chairman of DEMAND SRM, the trading arm of the charity.

Anthony lives in Sarratt, near the Abbott’s Langley branch of DEMAND, with his wife and young son.

Jane Whiteley

Jane is a graduate from Reading University (Food Technology, BSc Hons). She has worked in Head Office operations in both retailing (Marks and Spencer) and manufacturing (Rowntree Mackintosh) and subsequently developed her career in research at the food industry’s leading research body, IGD.  Her work has been published and she is an accomplished presenter and trainer.

Jane moved into Marketing and PR in 1999 and in 2001 was promoted to Head of Corporate Communications. She is a communications specialist with expertise in PR, Event Management, Branding, Marketing, Website Development, Sponsorship, Including influencing and working with CEOs and Directors of FMCG companies across the food industry (including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury, Asda, Procter & Gamble, Mars, Kelloggs).

Jane is mother to three young children and her interests include walking, reading, food, travel , art and sculpture. Jane became a Trustee of Demand in 2009.

Andy McBeath, Chief Executive

Andy began his career in the Royal Navy first gaining a degree in electrical engineering, then cross training in aerospace engineering and joined the Fleet Air Arm. He took early retirement at the age of 40 in the rank of Commander and spent a year at Cranfield on a full time MBA. He continued his aerospace career at British Aerospace and then National Air Traffic Services (NATS) where he began by running the engineering of London Air Traffic Control Centre and rose to Director of Engineering with a full Board position before retiring in 1998.

After a year off building himself a new racing car he began a second career in the voluntary sector at the Employer’s Forum on Disability before joining DEMAND in 2001.

His interests outside work are motor sport (specifically speed hill climbing), skiing, walking, working trials dog training and motor homing

Alan Stokes

Alan started work as a 16 year old accounts clerk in 1962, at a well-known ‘sticky tape’ manufacturer, before changing employment and direction to general accounts and administration at a modest sized food manufacturing company.  This post expanded into a middle management role with particular emphasis on the purchasing and importation of foodstuffs from the USA, Asia and the Caribbean, progressing through to become Buying Director.  He was part of a company buyout in 1987 and played a significant role, at Board level, in the development of the business until 1991, when he decided on a change of career.

After a six month break Alan joined DEMAND in 1992.

His interests away from work are travel, fine dining and a love of most sports.

Martin Brown

Martin is a mechanical design engineer who entered the disability market 27 years ago. Since then he has been senior operations management for 3 of the largest and oldest companies in the sector. Responsibilities have included overseeing the design and production of hundreds of iterations of disability products in 4 countries with operational responsibility for staff and facilities whilst managing quality and sales support in 21 countries.

Martin’s personal focus has always been customer service with a history of achievements that include the Queens Award for Contribution to Industry for the development of mobility products for disability and recent completion of his MBA

In his spare time Martin is a keen sailor qualified to RYA yacht masters and an importer and restorer of vintage American vehicles.

Fran Evans

Fran began her career working as a field archaeologist, gaining her first degree at Sheffield University in Prehistory and Archaeology, before changing direction, and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.  Fran’s experience spans electronic component manufacture and distribution, real estate, joinery and construction which lend a broad and pragmatic commercial perspective to her current role at Demand.

Fran loves gardening, holds a formal qualification in horticulture and enjoys reading, long country walks and turning her hand to all manner of art and craft projects.