Meet the Leadership Team

Charles Hartwell

Chief Executive Officer

Charles is our CEO and responsible for shaping and delivering our growth strategy, positioning Eville & Jones as a world leader within the sector.  Charles is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience within professional services and people-centric businesses.  Most recently, he was CEO of a specialist legal practice which, during his tenure, grew to become the largest such practice in the UK. Outside of work, Charles enjoys spending time with his family and is a keen amateur runner.

Jon Stanford

Operations Director

Jon is a qualified Environmental Health Officer and has extensive experience in enforcement and enforcement-related processes and in the development of quality management systems and frameworks in a service provider context. He is responsible for high-level contract management and customer liaison and has a strategic overview of general operational performance and specific responsibility for quality management and service delivery nationally. He is line manager to the three Regional Managers and plays a key part in forming the corporate strategy for continuous improvement. His previous local authority work and work with the Authority before joining Eville & Jones means he has valuable insight into customer expectations and is committed to ensuring exceptional standards of service delivery performance.

Duncan Garfield

Chief Operating Officer

Experienced Business Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the veterinary food hygiene industry. A skilled professional with excellent leadership skills, business acumen and the ability to effectively manage, lead and supervise a multidisciplinary team. A qualified Engineer with over 20-years’ experience as a business analyst and management information system manager with a keen ability to focus on an organisation’s information systems. With expertise in analysing business problems and then designing and maintaining solutions in a range of differing environments. Duncan is responsible for monitoring contract performance against specification and undertakes high-level customer liaison in matters relating to contract negotiation and new business proposals.

Sophie Willis

Director of People

Sophie is our Director of People and is responsible for shaping and delivering our people strategy; organisational development, culture and leadership.

Highly experienced Senior HR professional and Leadership Coach, skilled at working with Senior Executives, delivering effective strategic people processes to successfully drive innovation and high-performance cultures. Sophie is skilled at creating and delivering forward-thinking people planning and talent management practices. Experience across multiple sectors and industries, including Healthcare Tech, Digital Technology, Financial Services & Professional Services operating at both a global and local level.

Outside of work, Sophie loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoys sun holidays and travelling.

Eliza Jankowska

Head of Resources and Recruitment

Eliza is a high-achieving resources and recruitment manager who has held a number of key roles within Eville & Jones over many years. Eliza has built a broad network of candidate-sourcing channels – incorporating universities, national veterinary bodies and other industry stakeholders across the EU and elsewhere, contributing significantly to the corporate recruitment and resourcing strategy. Following the FSA tender in 2012, she managed and coordinated the transition of service delivery under the new contract which included the seamless TUPE transfer of more than 200 employees. An ambitious, self-motivated and approachable professional with boundless energy, Eliza is a natural leader who is always keen to take the initiative. She is also a proficient event manager who can confidently handle multiple deadlines and priorities to meet any client needs. Eliza is always keen to challenge herself further and is currently studying for an MBA at Bradford University’s School of Management.

Jose Teja

Regional Manager (North)

Official Veterinarian since 2000 with a wealth of experience in all aspects of food safety combined with outstanding management skills deployed since 2002. Innovate, progressive and thought-provoking approach to challenges with the aim of ever-increasing delivery of objectives in an effective and efficient manner while representing increased value for money. Keenly interested in the development of people through knowledge and the adoption of new technologies, to aid the achievement of corporate and contractual goals.

Radu Sirbu

Regional Manager (East)

A team player who establishes and develops effective local working relationships with our FSA colleagues , food business operators, industry bodies, Local Authorities and other stakeholders with a view to providing consistent and effective technical support and advice to deliver official controls. E&J Regional Manager for the entire East region providing clear direction, guidance, technical training and support, to ensure the correct implementation of Eville & Jones/ FSA policies and Eville & Jones standards of behaviour.

Jurgita Mejeryte

Regional Manager, West & Wales

Jurgita qualified as a vet in Lithuania and in 2006 joined E&J. She maintained a leadership role as AVM since 2016, and has extensive practical experience in auditing food safety management systems, conducting approval assessments, in-depth knowledge of legal requirements relating to Official Controls and extensive internal and external stakeholder engagement.

Jurgita uses a positive attitude and energy to encourage others to work efficiently, and to think strategically for the benefit of the organisation to implement various policies on food safety and effective service delivery.

In her free time, she enjoys running, cycling and canyoning with her family.

Jane Downes BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Adviser to the Board

After graduating from Veterinary School at Bristol University Jane entered general veterinary practice in North Yorkshire and went on to specialise in veterinary public health. She joined the Meat Hygiene Service, then an Agency Food Standards Agency and was appointed Veterinary and Technical Director in 2002.  In 2010 she lead the Chemical safety group within the Food Standards Agency. Jane works with all sectors of the food chain and with research organisations improving food safety and animal welfare.  Her current roles include the Chair of the Pig Health and Welfare Council, a member of Defra’s Animal Welfare Committee and Chair of its Welfare at Slaughter group, a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and Chair of Food and Drink Qualifications Ltd. (FDQ) which provides qualifications and apprenticeship endpoint assessments across the food chain.