Paul leads the vision and strategic implementation of Magical Mushroom Company®. He has extensive international management experience across sectors from construction to food retailing, including 14 years in senior roles at Sainsbury’s, receiving numerous industry awards. 

Founder of MMC Holdings International Ltd in 2020, Paul has driven significant growth across its UK and European subsidiaries. Under his leadership, MMC secured multiple Innovate UK grants and filed several patents, listing him as a co-inventor, reinforcing the company's pioneering status in sustainable packaging. 

Paul nurtures and encourages MMC’s talented team and positive workplace culture while driving engineering solutions that achieve cost parity with polystyrene. 

Matthew is an accomplished engineer specialising in process automation and industrial innovation. Since joining MMC in 2021, he has significantly advanced the company's manufacturing capabilities through innovative equipment design and inoculation processes that markedly enhance operational efficiency and scalability. 

He previously transformed a family-owned startup into a multimillion-dollar global business in the energy and industrial automation sectors culminating in a successful sale in 2019. Matthew subsequently founded two additional companies focused on robotics and AI-driven solutions. 

His entrepreneurial spirit, technical expertise and strategic insight continue to drive MMC’s growth, agility and ability to scale effectively, ensuring exceptional product quality and customer satisfaction.   

Named by the Financial Times’ Sifted as one of Europe’s top 50 Green Angels, Tim brings significant financial industry leadership, previously serving as Global Head of Financial Institutions at Credit Agricole CIB, Vice Chairman of Global Banking at HSBC, and Deputy Group Treasurer at Standard Chartered. 

Tim co-founded Fintech Connex demonstrating his commitment to digital innovation in finance. He also holds non-executive director positions at Salcombe Brewery and The Scottish Bee Company. 

His recent investment reflects a strong belief in our mission. As we approach our Series A funding, Tim’s financial insight and strategic experience are pivotal in guiding our growth trajectory and supporting investor confidence. 

Adam brings over 25 years of senior leadership expertise within the packaging industry, currently serving as CEO of Korozo Group, a global packaging leader. Previously, he managed Klöckner Pentaplast’s Food Division, overseeing a €1billion global operation across 22 plants. 

His distinguished career includes significant tenure at LINPAC Packaging, where he advanced to senior executive positions demonstrating expertise in packaging innovation, thermoforming technologies and strategic business development. 

Since joining MMC as an investor and non-executive director in 2024, Adam’s extensive industry knowledge and strategic insights have strengthened our ability to capitalise effectively on new market opportunities and achieve significant commercial growth. 

Jon has been instrumental to MMC since its earliest days, guiding the leadership team on governance, health and safety, risk management, company values, and performance systems. His strategic input continues to reinforce MMC’s commitment to excellence and transparency. 

With an illustrious career at Sainsbury’s as its longest-serving director, Jon held senior roles including Interim Board Retail Director overseeing 1,650 stores. He currently co-chairs the Sainsbury’s Veterans group and chairs its archive and museum project. 

As MMC’s Senior Independent Director, Jon provides balanced and independent oversight, ensuring robust governance frameworks, effective risk management and strategic clarity during key growth phases.  

Formerly an impactful non-executive director at MMC, Sally now advises on integrating sustainability across our operations. With over 20 years of experience in polymer technology, she is a renowned expert in sustainable materials innovation and collaborative business models. 

Sally founded the UK Circular Plastics Network and leads at Innovate UK Business Connect, where her expertise drives significant sustainability initiatives, including the £60 million Smart Sustainable Plastics Packaging Challenge. 

Her extensive networks across academia and industry continue to significantly benefit MMC, enhancing our innovation strategy, accelerating partnerships, and ensuring sustainability remains a core strategic priority. 

Greg acted as Board chair for the first 18 months and has had an immeasurable impact on the strategy, direction and branding of the company, including the Magical Mushroom Company®️ name. He is now focused on MMC’s next stage of branding and communications.

Held roles of Chief Marketing Officer both Eurostar during its move to London St Pancras, and London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, sitting on the executive board of LOCOG. Chair of Nottingham Board for Culture and Creativity and recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Nottingham Trent University.

Runs his own influential bespoke communications agency, founder of Harder Than You Think films, which has produced a double Emmy Award-winning film, Rising Phoenix, about the history of the Paralympics on Netflix and was the Creative Director and Producer of the COP26 ‘Earth To Cop’ opening ceremony.

Ian oversees day-to-day operation of our Attenborough site, applying his extensive production knowledge to drive customer satisfaction through high-quality, on-time delivery.  

Has 14 years’ experience working with the food production industry, the last 8 of which have been spent working for Melton Foods. Ian has a MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and LLB (Hons) in Law. 

Whilst working for Melton Foods he held many senior positions including Senior Frontline Manager, Area Leader and more recently Area Manager. 

Responsible for setting up MMC’s new Sofia plant and company structure, along with implementing the manufacturing processes, Bozhidar is a qualified engineer with an MBA and MSc in Chemistry.

Has more than 20 years’ experience in manufacturing working in industrial management, manufacturing and supply chain fields as an executive in medical, construction and multinationals with P&L responsibility.

Bozhidar has more than 10 years’ experience in successfully implementing lean processes at multiple factories. Responsible for managing several successful production start-ups, launching these businesses and boosting them in fully operational condition.

Denny joined in 2022 as a grow technician, before moving to the sales team to support the increasing demand for Mushroom® Packaging.

With a background in Ecology, Denny is passionate about helping clients achieve their sustainability goals by moving away from fossil fuel-based polystyrene and other plastic foams to a biodegradable alternative that is kind to our soils.

With experience in customer relations and project management, Denny looks forward to expanding MMC’s network as Business Development Manager.

Ben leads the prototyping and testing phase at our Addlestone site, applying care and craft to the process of turning exciting design into mycelium reality.

Also responsible for bespoke projects and Research & Development, Ben draws on a background of rigorous attention to detail and creativity from over a decade in FE/HE education and the photography industry.

Ben has taught at University of the Arts London and holds an MA in Sculpture, and brings a high level of skill and experience in communication around visual design/practice into the successful process of prototyping here at MMC.

Ryan is responsible for designing all packaging solutions for clients and has led the design function since inception. Produces initial designs and 3D prints for growing prototypes and supplies clients with everything from detailed Augmented Reality renderings to fabrication drawings.

With 20 years of experience in 3D modelling and an experienced Design Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry, Ryan is skilled in AutoCAD, photography and graphics.

Has a wealth of knowledge in free form and geometric shape designs and listed as co-inventor on a patent file for an Innovate UK grant.

Isabel joined MMC in June 2024 as a part-time industrial designer. Alongside the role, she is in her final year of an integrated Masters in Product Design Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Isabel has a passion for sustainable design which has recently been recognised for two national design awards from her undergraduate work.

In her studies, she has developed proficiency in 3D modelling with Autodesk Fusion 360, working closely with Matthew and Stuart to build an interactive model of our latest factory which has been a key tool for quick collaboration in its design.

She also works alongside Ryan and Sophie to deliver initial renders and 3D print prototypes for client packaging designs.

Narasimhan specialises in both the biomaterial and microbial aspects of production. With a degree in Biotechnology, he was trained in modules such as Basic Mechanical Engineering and Bioprocess Engineering.

As an undergraduate research assistant, he successfully designed and simulated mycelium growth, focusing on the mechanistic patterns of mycelium growth and its biomaterial applications.

He then obtained an MSc in Biotechnology with a specialisation in microbiology from the University of Nottingham.

As Lead Microbiologist at the Magical Mushroom Company, Narasimhan effectively bridges the gap between biology and materials science, contributing to the development of sustainable technologies that leverage both biological and industrial processes.

Barnaby joined the team in November 2022 as a grow technician. He currently supports Zainab with environmental testing at Attenborough and carries out quality control testing every quarter to ensure that our product is the best it can be. 

With a background in microbiology, Barnaby keeps contamination as low as possible on the factory floor. 

He has a degree in MBiol Microbiology from Nottingham Trent University where he focused on bacteria and how antibiotic resistance affects disinfectant resistance. 

Assists the Group Financial Controller in overseeing the company’s financial data and processes along with responsibility for accounts receivable and payable. Reconciles the accounts for MMC and ensures efficient invoice processing with both clients and suppliers.

Joined the team in the Summer of 2022 and acts as the deputy for Sofias Plant Manager, assisting the production team operating and making our first European plant in Sofia a successful one.

Has over twenty years experience as a Production Manager; particularly in managing staff, raw materials, warehouse and equipment maintenance and equipment repair,

Has particular responsibility for achieving a consistent growth quality and engagement with new clients in Bulgaria and beyond.