BRC - Key Persons


Andrew Opie

Job Titles:
  • Director of Food and Sustainability
Andrew heads up the team focusing on the production, labelling and sale of food alongside the responsible sourcing and production of all retail products. Covering a complex legislative agenda, he and his team work closely with key officials in all UK Governments and Brussels. They are also working closely with key NGOs and partners in the supply chain to improve the way products are made and sold. Andrew has huge experience in food production from his time with the NFU and before that as Chartered Surveyor managing a dairy estate.

Andy Higginson - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Member of the Board

Carolyn Hawley - CHRO

Job Titles:
  • HR Director
Carolyn, who joined us in 2015, is a senior and highly qualified HR professional, coach and coach supervisor with over 25 years of varied experience. She has a proven track record across a broad diversity of organisations including those from the oil and gas, engineering and FMCG sectors, as well as a wealth of international exposure. Additionally, Carolyn has experience of the public sector, having worked for the police service, social services and the NHS in her earlier career.

Darcy Willson-Rymer

Job Titles:
  • CEO, Card Factory
Proactive, organised, and personable - we have a strong relationship with what is a valuable supportive and proactive organisation.

Debbie Robinson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non Executive Director
  • CEO, Central England Co - Op

Fraser Tant

Job Titles:
  • Membership Director
Fraser joined BRC in March 2018 and leads our membership, marketing and partnership team. His remit is to create and deliver membership propositions, products and services that add value to BRC's Retailer and Associate Members. He has over 25 years' experience in trade associations and business-to-business sectors, 13 of which were spent leading marketing at IGD, the UK's food and grocery trade body. He is also co-founder of innovative start-up tea brand Twist.

Graham Wynn

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director for Consumer
Graham joined the BRC in 2001 and has built up an extensive network in departments and agencies which he can call on for information, advice and to make submissions on policy proposals. He was Chairman of the EuroCommerce Internal Market and Consumer Affairs Committee for 10 years, having first lobbied in the EU in 1979. Prior to the BRC he worked on BBC local radio; was Secretary General of an international political organisation; and Head of Policy and the Shadow Cabinet Secretariat of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Helen Dickinson - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive
  • Member of the Board
Helen leads the team and sets the strategic direction of the BRC. She joined in January 2013 and has been working with retailers for over 25 years. In 2016 she was awarded an OBE for Services to Retail. Helen is passionate about diversity and inclusion in retail, acting as the BRC's Social Mobility Commission ambassador; participating in the Timewise Innovation Unit, looking to support more flexibility in jobs, particularly at senior levels; supporting the Everywoman Retail Ambassadors Programme; and having previously been the Chair of Working Chance, a charity helping women offenders find employment. Helen believes retail can make a strong contribution to communities, and is also on the advisory board for Pennies, a charity which offers digital charity boxes to businesses. Helen was previously UK Head of Retail at KPMG, driving and developing the retail practice and leading relationships and audits for many clients.

Ian Filby

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Chairman, BRC Policy Board

Ian Percival - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Finance Director
  • Member of the Board
Ian joined us in 2017 and oversees our finance team. He has a wealth of experience gained from a career spent in the home shopping retail sector in Finance Director and Chief Executive roles. While working as Finance Director at Freemans PLC, he participated in the activities of the Mail Order Traders Association. Subsequently he joined an e-commerce start-up, Sit-up Limited, which grew rapidly and was successfully sold to Virgin Media.

Jon Bye

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non Executive Director

Kate Seljeflot

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non - Executive Director, BRC ( Kingfisher )

Kenyatte Nelson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non Executive Director

Kris Hamer

Job Titles:
  • Director of Insight
Kris leads the BRC insight offer for its members and subscribers. He joined the BRC in 2022, having worked within the industry for over 25 years. Kris started his career on the shop floor at Tesco and Waitrose and subsequently led insight and operational change teams at major UK retailers including Asda and SSP Group. He has a PhD in applied statistics from a study on retail data and is a visiting fellow of Henley Business School. Kris is a champion of the opportunities the industry provides to people of all backgrounds and is passionate about simplifying complexity that enables understanding and drives action.

Manju Malhotra

Job Titles:
  • CEO, Harvey Nichols

Nick Wilkinson

Job Titles:
  • CEO, Dunelm
The BRC is the best trade body and sets an example for others. A resource to help, a mirror to hold up to the industry so we can be better, a voice on the things we agree on and perspective on those things we don't.

Peter Wood

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of Audit & Risk Committee
  • Member of the Board

Sarah Miles

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non Executive Director

Stephen Bethel

Job Titles:
  • Corporate Affairs Director
Stephen leads the BRC's communications and political engagement team, working across the organisation's priority campaigns. He is an experienced corporate affairs professional with a background in media relations, public affairs and employee engagement. Stephen spent his early career at the Department for Transport and Ministry of Defence, and has since held senior positions with BAE Systems, Bombardier and Bupa.

Tom Ironside

Job Titles:
  • Director of Business & Regulation
Tom leads the Business & Regulation team covering a broad range of business cost and reputational issues including property, planning, regeneration, taxation, crime, employment, diversity and risk and safety. He joined us in 2008 bringing previous experience in a range of public sector policy roles and began his career at the Local Government Commission leading reviews of local authorities' structure and electoral arrangements.

Will Kernan

Job Titles:
  • CEO, River Island