Jo Ritzema has been our Managing Director since 2013, having joined WCF in 2004 as Group Financial Controller. She became Executive Chair in November 2024. A Chartered Accountant, Jo was WCF’s first female Board member when she joined the Board in 2007 as Finance Director. Her progression through WCF is a great example of the opportunities given to those employees who wish to progress and are willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone and try new things. Jo is a passionate supporter of employee ownership and was a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Employee Ownership Association for 10 years. A firm believer in continuous development Jo was also a member of Vistage, a peer learning and mentoring program for senior executives.
Phil Murray joined WCF in April 2018 and was immediately appointed to the Board as Deputy Managing Director. He became our CEO in November 2024. A Chartered Accountant, Phil has held a number of Finance and Commercial Director positions in a number of sectors. Phil is President of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA). UKIFDA is the trade association for the liquid fuels distribution industry and is playing a key role in the future fuels strategy as the UK transitions towards greener energy. Phil is also a member of Vistage, a peer learning and mentoring program for senior executives.
Pam Murray is Company Secretary of WCF and was appointed to the Board in 2017. A Chartered Management Accountant, Pam joined WCF as Financial Controller 2015 and is now our Head of Finance. Previously Pam spent 27 years at Enesco, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of giftware and collectables.
Now retired, Martin Ward was an Audit and Corporate Finance Partner with Dodd & Co Chartered Accountants. Martin chairs the WCF Finance and Audit Committee and is our Senior Independent Director. Martin joined the WCF Board in 2007. Martin advised entrepreneurial companies on their growth strategies and how to implement robust corporate reporting. He also works with Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) as part of their Disciplinary Committee and was previously Vice Chair of the ICAEW Audit Registration Committee and a Member of the Audit Practices Board of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).