Dispute Resolution Ombudsman

Board

Comprising a Chair and Non-Executive Directors, the Board of Directors is responsible for appointing the Chief Ombudsman and providing governance. The Board of Directors also helps to safeguard the Ombudsman’s interests so that it is free to operate effectively and independently. Our Standards Board exist to help preserve our independence and provide an invaluable set of checks and balances on our work. All Standards Board members share our vision of inspiring consumer confidence and raising industry standards and do so on a voluntary basis. Governed by a set of byelaws, the Standards Board regularly review a cross section of our adjudications, to ensure they are both fair and reasonable. It also oversees our rules, practices and procedures.

The Board of Directors

Kevin Grix

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Ombudsman

Kevin was appointed in 2008 and is responsible for directing the activities of the Ombudsman. He read law at university for 3 years and graduated with honours, prior to studying to be a Barrister in London at the Inns of Court School of Law.

John Peerless (Chair)

Brighton & Hove Trading Standards

John Peerless has over 40 years of experience in consumer protection. Qualifying as a Weights and Measures Inspector he eventually became the Head of Trading Standards at Brighton & Hove City Council.

Judith Turner

Deputy Chief Ombudsman

Judith read Law at King’s College London for 3 years before graduating with honours in 1998. She then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a training contract before qualifying as a solicitor in 2001.

Billy Quinn

Managing Director

Billy joined the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman Limited Board in 2014 as a Non-Executive Director, serving as Board Chair 2017-18. He was appointed as Group Managing Director of Dispute Resolution Ombudsman in 2016.

Jonny Westbrooke

Non-Executive Director

Jonny joined the board as a NED in 2019. He has been Clerk and Chief Executive of the Furniture Makers’ Company since 2012 and is also a current director of the Forces Pension Society. Previous appointments include running FIRA international.

James Walker

Non-Executive Director

James has a thorough knowledge of the Ombudsman landscape and technological innovations in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role.

Richard Puckey

Non-Executive Director

Richard has been working for Dispute Resolution Ombudsman Ltd since 2019, primarily in the financial management of the rail contract. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business studies from the University of Northumbria in 1990.

Standards Board

Dr. Richard Kirkham (Chair)

The University of Sheffield

Dr. Kirkham has written widely on the Ombudsman institution, scrutinising its capacity to operate as a fair and effective dispute resolution service

Tom Ballard

Citizens Advice

Isabel Barrell

Former Managing Director, Wesley Barrell

Isabel Barrell is the former managing director of the (at the time) family owned and run Wesley- Barrell Ltd. The company was one of the founding members of The Furniture Ombudsman.

Jim Potts FTSI, DCA, MBA

Fellow CTSI and retired Head of Lancashire Trading Standards

Jim Potts is the former Head of Trading Standards with Lancashire County Council. A Fellow of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Jim has a wealth of experience in dealing with consumer law and complaints regarding furniture.

Susie Helliwell

CTSP Senior Trading Standards Officer at Hertfordshire County Council

Susie has been a trading standards officer for Hertfordshire County Council for the past 18 years and is particularly interested in consumer law, dispute resolution and business advice. She also sits on the board for the Institute for Consumer Affair

Brenda McNamara

Business Excellence Manager at the BSI Assurance UK Limited

Brenda McNamara is the Business Excellence Manager at the BSI Assurance UK Limited.

Naomi Creutzfeldt

Professor of Socio Legal Studies at University of Westminster

Peter Stonely

Trading Standards Consultant and former Principal Trading Standards Officer with Peterborough City Council

Harry Yunis

DFS, Head of Customer Services

Harry Yunis worked in a number of influential roles at DFS from Online to Credit Uplift, building a reputation for his commitment to world class service through customer advocacy.

Anthony Kirkwood

B & Q, Head of Installations

Anthony Kirkwood has worked in retail for many years, with experience ranging from retail operations to property and commercial. In his current role, he leads B&Q’s Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Installation service across its 300+ stores and in

Tracey Skea

Tapi Carpets, Director

Tracey Skea has worked in the flooring industry (retail) for 20 years and prior to that spent time in the product team at HMV. Being a qualified accountant, her experience has included working with PLC executive directors and senior managers in both large and small organisations beginning in a financial role.

Ian Studd

British Association of Removers, Director General

Ian Studd's career in the removals industry now spans 50 years and takes in many different operational, sales, and managerial roles in different market sectors.

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