Meet Our Team
Emlyn Harris
Managing Director
Bio
Emlyn started off his Van Guard career as our Commercial Finance Director in early 2020 and has recently taken over the role of Managing Director. When he isn’t planning the company's next move, he can be found enjoying some down time on the golf course.
Favourite Quote
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston S. Churchill
Barry Woodward
Chairman
Bio
Barry joined as an apprentice in the workshop and over the space of 40 years worked pretty much every position at Van Guard. Most recently, Barry transitioned from Managing Director to Chairman where he oversees company's culture and ethos.
Leigh Andrews
Director of Operations
Bio
Every product that has been created here at Van Guard has crossed Leigh’s design and development desk. With his engineering brain Leigh is constantly coming up with ideas for new products and improvements for our existing product ranges.Ashley Rote
Commercial Finance Director
Bio
Ashley joined us as our financial controller and has recently moved into the position of Commercial Finance Director. What he doesn't know about spreadsheets isn't worth knowing!
Favourite Quote
"Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right” - Henry Ford
Alan Smith
Business Development Manager
Bio
Alan joined Van Guard in May of 2022 as Business Development Manager, with over 25 years’ experience in a BDM role with various businesses Van Guard is lucky to have him. Not only does he bring with him a wealth of knowledge he also supplies the office with top class ‘Dad’ jokes.
Favourite Quote
"She’s great my Nan. She used to say things like: ‘here’s five pounds – don’t tell your mother,’ I’d say ‘why not?’ She’d say ‘it’s hers’.”
Ashley Pym
Operations Manager
Bio
Ash is a vital part of the Van Guard team, from overseeing the production team, to having a hand in the creation of our products from start to finish. Not only is he an expert on all things Van Guard he is also an oatmeal and raisin cookie connoisseur.
Favourite Quote
"Do not try to become a person of success but try to become a person of value”
John Land
Head of Sales
Bio
John has Van Guard in his blood, his grandfather was our founder Gerald Land, and he has worked at Van Guard since finishing college in 2008. When he’s not out on the road visiting customers or brokering the next fleet deal, he can be found filling us all in on the latest football news.
Favourite Quote
"When they don't score, they hardly ever win” - Michael Owen
Kylie Way
Customer Services Manager
Bio
Kylie is the newest addition to our customer service department. With over 19 years' experience in customer service roles she brings with her a wealth of experience. She also keeps her team happy with her fantastic baking!
Favourite Quote
"Believe you can and you’re already halfway there.”
Chris Clow
UK Sales & Account Manager
Bio
Chris comes to us with years of sales experience. He has joined the team and hit the ground running. When he's not out on the road visiting customers, he can be found watching his son play football whatever the weather.
Favourite Quote
"In my time at Anfield, we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside – Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves"
Mark Searle
Key Account Manager
Bio
Mark can be found visiting customers up and down the country. When he isn't driving the Van Guard van, he can be found driving another bright yellow van - his campervan Bumblebee.
Favourite Quote
"‘It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me" - Bruce Wayne
Ian Woodward
Product Manager
Bio
Ian started at Van Guard on an apprenticeship and over the years has worked his way to Product Manager. Every Van Guard product that is new or improved will cross Ian's desk.
Favourite Quote
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”
Jon Lilley
Production Manager
Bio
Jon has been with Van Guard for a number of years and has worked in various departments. His more recent role is overseeing the assembly teams, ensuring that we are manufacturing our products to a high standard and working as efficiently as possible. When he isn’t at Van Guard HQ he can be found exploring Devon coastal paths with his family.
Favourite Quote
"A company is only as good as the people it keeps.”
Alan Lewis
Workshop Manager
Bio
Alan started with Van Guard as an apprentice, (and won Apprentice of the year, TWICE!), he oversees our manufacturing processes. A sheet of metal can be delivered to Van Guard HQ and Alan and his team will transform it into brackets that go out the door to our customers. Some would call it magic!
Favourite Quote
“The person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero” – Stan Lee
Sam Walters
Warehouse & Distribution Manager
Bio
Once a product has been manufactured it ends up with Sam and his team for packing and distribution. Nothing gets in and out of our warehouse without Sam knowing about it. Although he enjoys navigating his way around the warehouse he also enjoy navigating his paddleboard along his local coastline.
Favourite Quote
"Start where you are , use what you have, do what you can.”
Len Stocker
Development Engineer
Bio
Len works closely with Leigh and Ian to develop new products and is always able to come up with an engineering solution to any issues we may stumble across. Not only is he one of the engineering minds behind our products he also used to be an expert on Scrapheap Challenge!
Favourite Quote
"It takes as long to get it right as it does to get it wrong.”
Amy Butterworth
Marketing Coordinator
Bio
After starting with Van Guard in the middle of 2021 Amy hit the ground running within the marketing team, from arranging corporate events to redesigning our literature. And if you've ever wondered who the mastermind behind our socials is, she would be the lady!
Favourite Quote
"What you think, you create. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you become.”
Bio
Jade started with Van Guard in 2017 after spending some time travelling the world. From starting off in the customer service team, to navigating Van Guard through Brexit with our Export department, she has now found a new home in the marketing team and among many spreadsheets.
Favourite Quote
"She was an adventurer at heart but, oh how she loved to be home.”
Ryan Keefe
Senior Customer Support Advisor
Bio
Ryan is known around the office as the lock king! Not only is he a fountain of knowledge for our van roof accessories but what he doesn’t know about our security products isn’t worth knowing. As a key member of our customer service team, he will often be one of the first members of staff that our customers speak to.
Favourite Quote
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” - Lord of the Rings
Tracey Sluman
Customer Support Advisor
Bio
Tracey has been with the company for over 21 years and is a vital part of the customer service team, within the team she is known as the ‘order import Queen’. When she isn’t processing orders, Tracey will most likely be in her garden getting stuck into a good book.
Favourite Quote
"We're going to need a bigger boat!” - Jaws