People

A SKILLED AND DIVERSE TEAM

At Magical Mushroom Company®, our people are central to the progress we are making.

We are building a new kind of manufacturing business: practical, ambitious and rooted in the belief that natural materials can replace some of the most damaging forms of packaging. That takes more than enthusiasm. It takes engineering discipline, scientific expertise, operational focus and people who care deeply about the quality of what we produce.

Since launching in 2019, we have grown through hard work, learning and persistence. From the factory floor to product development, operations and customer delivery, our team has helped turn an ambitious idea into real manufacturing capability.

We are proud to bring together people from different backgrounds, disciplines and industries.

Our team includes engineers, scientists, designers, operators and commercial specialists, all working towards the same goal: to build high-quality products that work in harmony with nature.

Most of our team have now been with MMC for more than three years, giving us a strong base of experience, loyalty and practical knowledge as we move into the next stage of growth.

We are also proud that some of the people now helping to transform our manufacturing capability are women in engineering, science and design roles. They were hired entirely on merit, and their impact is already visible in the way we are improving consistency, throughput and scale.

By investing in our people, we strengthen our culture, improve our products and deliver the high standards our customers expect.

Board of Directors

Paul Gilligan
Founder and CEO

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. 

Ryszard Bublik
Non-Executive Director

Ryszard serves as a strategic advisor, offering extensive experience in corporate financing and growth strategies aimed at maximising shareholder value. With over 25 years in advisory roles, his robust network significantly benefits MMC. 

Starting in investment banking before moving to international advisory firm Brunswick, Ryszard has substantial experience in financial transactions and crisis management. Most notably, he founded and successfully exited Social360, an acclaimed social media analytics firm. 

Initially joining MMC as an investor, Ryszard became a non-executive director in 2020. His guidance and connections have been crucial in attracting investment and strategically positioning MMC for continued success. 

Jon Hartland
Senior Independent Director

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.  

Alexandra Kamerling
Non-Executive Director

Alix, our most recent non-executive director, brings exceptional legal expertise in competition law, regulatory compliance, and international business strategy. As a Senior Partner at DLA Piper, she has advised global enterprises, listed companies, and prominent venture capital funds. 

Her extensive experience is particularly valuable as MMC continues its rapid expansion in the sustainable alternatives sector. Alix’s strategic guidance ensures regulatory compliance, proactively addressing competition law challenges to maximise our market position. 

Alix’s thoughtful legal perspective provides critical assurance as we navigate complex growth opportunities, making her an indispensable member of our governance and strategic advisory team. 

Adam Barnett
Non-Executive Director

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. 

Gabby Bennett
Founder Investor Director

Management

Stuart Townsend
Head of New Plant Openings

Leads plant operations and manufacturing daily business activities. Responsible for managing resources, developing and implementing an operational plan and ensuring that procedures are carried out according to the company’s process standardisation.

 

Also responsible for overseeing all phases of the new plant opening process, making sure new MMC plant projects are operational on time within scope and budget; led the opening of Attenborough and Sofia plants.

Stuart brings extensive experience with over 30 years in the food retailing sectors, having held several senior positions in a variety of roles including marketing, Head of Corporate Internal Communications and managing large flagship Sainsbury’s stores with teams of up to 600 people.

Donna Bryan
Head of Finance

Donna brings over 25 years of accountancy expertise and 10 years of leadership experience to our team. Since joining the company a year ago, she has played a key role in driving cost-efficiency initiatives, with a focus on optimizing the supply chain and reducing expenses to improve EBITDA margins.

With a data-driven approach to cash flow management and operational expenditure, Donna collaborates closely with the executive team to ensure our financial strategy aligns with the company’s broader goals.

Denny Moyers
Head of Sales - UK

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 Head of Sales.

Business Development

Natasha Walker
Business Development Manager - USA

Natasha educates clients on the wonders of Mushroom® Packaging and has successfully helped lead the company’s sales direction toward repeat orders and large-scale manufacturing.

Focused on customer relations and development of strong sales structures, ensuring business is driven by environmentally friendly standards and sustainability.

An experienced business development manager with 10 years of experience working with European and U.S. companies helping them access foreign markets. MSc in Nutrition and Public Health and background in consulting roles with B2B companies in FMCG and sports-related products.

Ben Heasman
Head of Prototyping

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.

Engineers

Sophie Rush
Process Engineer

Sophie joined MMC in January 2024 as a part-time industrial designer, collaborating closely with Ryan. Alongside this role, she is pursuing an integrated master's degree in Product Design Engineering at the University of Nottingham, currently in her third year.

Through her studies, Sophie has developed proficiency in SolidWorks CAD software and simulation drop testing, skills which are invaluable to MMC's future projects, particularly in designing packaging for white goods.

She possesses a high level of technical detail and a substantial knowledge of emerging technologies, enhancing our design solutions. Sophie's keen interest in sustainability, a significant focus of her academic studies, aligns perfectly with our company’s core values.

Isabel Payne
Industrial Engineer

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.

Ella Hilton
Industrial Designer

Scientists

Sem Abit
R&D Scientist

Sem joined the team in November 2022. He is currently working as a Research Associate in collaboration with the University of Nottingham.  

With a passion for pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery, Sem is poised to make meaningful contributions to our company's endeavours in research, leveraging their expertise and enthusiasm to drive innovation and progress in the field.

His distinguished academic background includes a Masters in Drug Discovery from the University of Nottingham and a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Anna University. Sem brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company.

Narasimhan Raghunathan
Lead Microbiologist

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.

Barney Rothery Msc
Microbiologist

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

With a background in microbiology, Barney 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. 

Operations

Sacha Storrie
Finance Lead

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.

Ben Toplis
Operations Manager

MMC’s first employee at Beeston and now responsible for leading and training the growing number of technicians at the plant.

Has particular responsibility for achieving a consistent growth quality, in line with customer expectations an agreed and documented specifications.

Deputies for Plant Manager, helps the production team operate, set up, clean and troubleshoot equipment and records information ensuring all required procedures are followed to grow the perfect product for our customers.

 

 

Holly Gallacher
Process Lead
Chris Marshall
Chief Mushroom Carpenter

Team Leaders

Raghul Moorthy
Lead Technician
Hugo Palfreyman
Lead Technician
Eddie Gooding
Lead Technician

Digital Creation

Daisy Sheppard
Content Creator

Daisy joined Magical Mushroom Company® in August 2025 as a Content Creator, managing social media channels and producing digital content to support the company’s promotional and brand activity.

She is currently studying Film, Photography and Media at the University of Leeds and previously completed a year abroad in the Netherlands studying Arts, Culture and Media.

With a passion for design, editing and visual storytelling, Daisy enjoys creating engaging content that communicates MMC’s mission and identity in creative and accessible ways.

Advisors

Greg Nugent
Marketing Consultant

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.

Peter Lumley-Savile
In-House Counsel

Responsible for contracts, intellectual property, and all other legal aspects for MMC and sites as an advisor for MMC Holding International Ltd and Magical Mushroom Company®’s Europe boards. Integral to MMC on all contract negotiations and legal advice.

 Peter is a Partner at Keystone Law with solid experience as a commercial lawyer, spanning a broad range of relevant sectors and transactions.

Has particular experience in advising on and drafting contracts in the technology, publishing and media, commercial insurance, hotels and leisure, retail, manufacturing and technology spaces, as well as in intellectual property and consumer protection.

Prof. Sally Beken
Senior Board Advisor

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. 

Careers

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