Our Team

A close-knit, dedicated team is the secret of Paramount's success. May we introduce you to a few of the key people:

Ali Hannaford – Managing Director

I founded Paramount in 1988 and am passionate about my family life and my business. I’m married to Reg and we have two sons, Josh and Jake. I love Skiing, walking, painting, cricket and rugby, motorbike riding, food, cooking and travelling. My role as Managing Director is joy as I have such a fabulous team around me. They are all as passionate as me about the business, which means I can take lots of time off to enjoy the things that I love! Let’s face it none of us are getting any younger!

Jon Phillips – Finance Director

As Finance Director my role is centered on keeping the scores, saying ‘no’ and managing the finances to aid growth. I enjoy working at Paramount as everyone shares the same goals and philosophy on customer service and delivering quality. Outside of work, life is all about relaxing and enjoying family life with my wonderful wife and two children. 

Steve Lamont – Production Director

I joined in 2000 having previously worked for Fisher Foods, a chilled Seafood supplier to M&S. My strength is in people management and a “yes we can” attitude. Away from work I’m husband to Cheryl, a Dad to Sara & Amy, and a Grandad to Lola, all of them enrich my life (or so they tell me)! Spare time that’s easy, walking the coastal paths with Cheryl and our Labrador, Murphy. After which we always seem to find ourselves enjoying traditional pub grub washed down with a couple of cheeky half’s of Devon’s finest real ale.

Sue Cullum - Sales & Marketing Director

I joined in 1999, my previous position was a Buyer at Kingfrost (A part of Young's). I really enjoy my role as Sales & Marketing Director which is challenging yet enjoyable, made so by the eclectic mix of team members who like me, work hard but try to have fun in the process. When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my friends. There’s nothing like a shopping spree with my ‘Fruityboys’ or girly nights out. I have been known to partake in extreme sports abseiling down Grimsby Dock Tower for a local charity (309 ft) & bungee jumping off Victoria Falls Bridge over the Zambezi River! Crazy, considering I don't like heights!

Josh Hannaford - Buyer

My role is basically long term purchasing strategy, coupled with an eye for the finer points of the delicate balance between having a huge amount of stock and the limits of the warehouses.
I have a GSOH, OHAC, and my friends say I’m bubbly and “quirky”
Likes: Black and white films, pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
Dislikes: Colour television, long island ice teas, raincoats!

Brennan Green – Non Executive Technical Director

I’m a graduate in Food Technology and my career has included working with Heinz, Marks & Spencer, Rahbek Foods and BJG Associates ( a consultancy advising the industry on food safety, processing & design). I’m married to Linda and have three sons, Simon, David & Jack. I used to play hockey but now my hobbies are golf, fishing and drinking wine.

 Graham Thomson - National Account Business Development Manager

I’m responsible for looking after the National Account Pub & Restaurant Chains, I work closely with the Chefs in the NPD kitchen & they are an integral part of driving my accounts forward. I’ve been at Paramount for over a year now but I’ve always had connections with Paramount during my career whilst at M&J Seafood & British Seafood. I have a daughter Called Hannah, who is 13 going on 30 ! While I’m busy keeping Hannah up to date, with all the latest food trends, Hannah keeps me on the right track, with the latest fashion tips & how I should be looking for a man in his early 40’s!

Debs Casey-Smith - National Account Manager

I moved to Devon in 2008 and was lucky enough to have been accepted into the Paramount fold. My role as an Account Manager takes me all over the UK working with Wholesalers, Area Representatives and the end users. Although the time away from home can be wearing, I love the customer interaction and the chance to present some of the best seafood products available to the Foodservice market. When I'm not lost on the motorway networks of the UK, I like relaxing with a good bottle of wine or exploring the coastline with my partner Case and our cheeky Cockerpoo, Alfie.

Mark Avery - National Account Manager

I recently joined the Paramount team in May 2011. For the last 20 years I have worked for several UK food manufacturers such as Lyons, King Frost (Part of the Young's Catering Group) & Cherry Valley selling products ranging from poultry to seafood into the foodservice. I live in Suffolk with my wife Louise, and in our spare time we enjoy gardening, walking and travel.

Emma Willis - Technical Manager

I graduated with a BSc (hons) in Environmental Science and then started in the food industry 1998 in a dessert factory. I then moved onto the sandwich industry for 4 years, mostly auditing suppliers and doing some serious air miles before starting with Paramount in 2005. Now it’s the fun-filled world of seafood! I am married to Dean, we share our home with three cats. We have a busy social life, and we both enjoy cooking (and the wine that goes with it!).  

Jessica Waller – PR & Communications Manager

I recently joined in 2010 and consider my role to be exciting and varied. I can be researching food trends and emerging markets one day and overseeing a new product launch the next. I love seafood so I don’t mind being a blind tester for the chefs delicious creations especially if I’ve forgotten my lunch! I've been married to my husband Steve for 13 years and have a toddler called Archie and a young Boxer dog called Lola-May. I would expand about what I like do in my spare time but there isn't much to speak of!

Julie Yeo - Sales Administration Manager

I joined in 1999 so am practically part of the furniture! My daily routine involves anything from customer orders, form filing, stock balancing right up to liaising with the factory regarding trials and general stock production. I'm married to Martin and we have a son called Connor. My weekends feel like they are spent doing laundry, laundry and more laundry – but I usually manage to slot in a bit of shopping at some point!! Then up early on Sunday to watching Connor play rugby in the rain! I so didn’t think that one through when he was younger!

Alan Phillips – Production Engineering Manager

I joined in 13 years ago in 1998 as the Engineering Manager. I enjoy my varied role and have seen 4 factory re-builds and expansions, so I’m always kept busy. My main role is to keep production running smoothly, maintain the factory machinery and stay abreast of any innovations and developments that can help drive the business forwards. I’m a 56 year old Devonian, born and breed and I’ve been happily married to my lovely wife Lesley for 34 years. I have 2 daughters & 3 grandchildren

Dean Willis – Operations & Process Manager

My role is interesting and varied, the operations side is about analysing the efficiencies and yields, but the process half keeps my feet firmly on the ground. I don’t like the early mornings but I do enjoy the challenge of improving efficiency on a day to day basis. I enjoy a good social life utilizing the long weekend and have recently been recruited into our local pub panto. I also like to grow strange and interesting plants, chilli’s being my favourite. At the moment my hottest are 35,000 on the Scoville scale, and hopefully the mango, avocado and passion fruit will shoot soon!

Harry Blackborough – Production Manager

I joined in 2000, and was employed to run the sauce making unit at the Brixham unit which was a smaller site than the Heathfield site. I was soon promoted to overseeing the manufacturing production lines and now I manage a team of 33 people on 4 lines. My previous military background does help keep a tidy ship and the factory running like a well oiled machine! I’ve been married to Ann for 35 years and have 2 boys, Dean who is getting married to an Irish lass called Aideen, and Craig married to Trish who has 3 children: Jessie, Tyler and Bryony. I have 2 dogs Charlie (West Highland terrier) & Jimmy (Scottish Terrier).

Craig Blackborough – Senior Development Chef

I recently joined Paramount in 2010. Food is my passion and this role allows me to have my finger on the pulse, tracking future food trends, creating new flavour profiles and working with some great clients. I am really excited about Paramount’s future direction and enjoy working with the team, launching new products, plus the hours aren’t as long as previous chef roles! I have a partner of 15 years and 3 wonderful children and they mean everything to me, plus they share most of my hobbies (well maybe one). We all enjoy cooking and being creative, hiking, fishing and being together as a family. 

Mauro Sardu – Development Chef

I come from Sardinia, food for me is a way of life, I believe in the saying ....live to eat, not eat to live!
I have been working in product development for nearly 20 years, although I have been at Paramount for 13 years. I like this job as every day is diverse and rewarding, also it’s great to be able to develop new recipes as well as re-invent archived recipes and ingredients.

Wendy Wallace – Production, Sales & Buying Administration Assistant

First joined in 2003 as an Admin Assistant and left in 2005 to relocate to New Zealand. I returned in 2007 and happily returned to Paramount, it was like I hadn’t left except we’d moved to the Heathfield site. I am responsible for balancing stocks, production admin and raw material ordering. I also run the staff lottery syndicate and Grand National sweepstakes (I’m not a gambler really)! I live with my fiancée Jayson and have 3 sons and a daughter and will soon have a step-daughter and step-son too! I enjoy, walking, pub lunches and a glass of wine or too! I am currently trying to get into shape for ‘our big day’ but its hard work at the gym but I do enjoy a relaxing swim and sauna afterwards!