Meet the Team

Federica Rainaldi

Project Manager

One rainy day in September 2010 Federica landed on the English shores from sunny Italy to follow her then boyfriend (now husband) ... a few years later, in September 2016 she joined the Corporate team at ESco as a Subscription Specialist. Recognising her fabulous attention to detail and splendid organisation skills, Federica progressed into our ever growing and busy Account Management Department as an Account Executive in January 2017, becoming an Account Manager in February 2020, and then a Project Manager in January 2023! Now you can mainly find her at her desk juggling multiple inboxes and clients’ projects...that is, when she is not jetting off to Italy to see her family and get her regular dose of Vitamin D! When she isn't at her desk, chances are she's got her nose stuck in a book somewhere around the ESco building.

Did you know? Federica is actually a 'Doctor' and has a PhD in Political Science.

Nicknames: FedEx, Little Italy

Lee Turbard

Data Solutions Director

A long time ago in a converted pig building far, far away, Lee and his full head of hair joined ESco to earn some Christmas spending money by stuffing promotional year planners into postal tubes. Thirty years and one traumatic separation later (the aforementioned hair), Lee now fulfils the role of Data Solutions Director - "if you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find him..."

Did you know? Lee has climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge... twice! He's going for the hat-trick... when they let him back in the country!

Nicknames: Turbo

Roger Duffin

Director

Roger joined ESco in 1999 bringing a wealth of knowledge with him, having spent the previous 27 years in the publishing industry. Roger is our projects guru. If you want something done, on time, on budget and to the highest standard...Roger is your man. In the office, Roger is involved in strategic planning, finance and purchasing, the overseeing of key client accounts and several operational areas of ESco's business including the mailroom team and print and production. Out of the office, well, Roger has 5 dogs, 30 chickens, and a footpath through the garden he's trying to close down. You will mostly find him at the gym, mowing the lawn (with his two, two year old grandchildren trailing behind), out on the bike with the dogs, behind his desk or, understandably, face down asleep at his kitchen table.

Did you know? Roger was a keen competitive middle distance athlete, and ran for Braintree AC first team till the age of 40. He stood down only recently.

Nicknames: Bill, Dodgy Rog (totally unwarranted, promise), Dad (as in Father ESco)

Darren Laplain

Head of Development

In search of re-joining the rat race after living off the grid travelling around Europe in a motorhome, Darren joined ESco in 2007. After a short stint in the mailroom, and several different roles within the IT team Darren has reached the dizzy heights of Head of Development. Outside of work Darren spends most of his time running around after his 2 young kids and trying to teach them important life lessons: 'Rock music rocks!', 'Always say "Please" and "Thank you"', and 'There is no situation in life that can't be improved by a cookie'. Although they seem to have picked the last one up themselves from the Cookie Monster.

Did you know? Darren has a 25 year old copy of The Beano in his glove box.

Nicknames: Dazza

Andy Barnard

Systems and Support Manager

Andrew joined ESco in January 2011 as a Print Executive in our busy Production Team, progressing into our IT Department in August 2013 to exercise his wealth of IT knowledge gained during his Computing degree. Monday to Friday Andy is a pro-active and busy IT whizz, with his free time being spent in the terraces at Cambridge United, playing cricket, getting competitive with the ESco Badminton team, or working up a sweat... in the pub.

Did you know? Andy captains a local cricket club, who seem to spend the majority of their “training” sessions supporting the village pub.

Nicknames: AB

Greg Viney

Developer

Greg began his ESco life in December 2013. You'll find him stuck behind the monitor as a developer focussing on SQL server integration and solutions. Greg enjoys competing as well as coaching judo which he has done since the age of 7. He is a 2nd Dan black belt at Cambridge university judo club which helps him stay fit enough to entertain his 3 active children.

Did you know? Greg represented Great Britain at the tender age of 17 in Judo.

Nicknames: G

John McHale

Client Services Director

John McHale joined ESco one cold and windy day in December in 2005 as our Warehouse Assistant. His roles at ESco have since consisted of Warehouse Manager, Production Team Manager, Account Manager, Head of Account Management & finally, where he currently resides as Client Services Director. During office hours, John can be found at his desk, drinking copious amounts of coffee, on the phone to clients and serenading his colleagues with a mixture of humming, singing and whistling (usually all at the same time). In his free time, John indulges in his love for motorbikes, spending time surrounded by women (wife, two young daughters and dog Jodie) and trying to maintain the garden.

Did you know? John is married to Deputy Managing Director, Louise McHale.

Nicknames: John Boy, Colin, Adult Toddler, Johny Mak

Sarah Waddington

Senior Account Executive

In October 2013, after completing her degree in Accounting & Finance and when she was just knee high to a grass hopper, Sarah Louise Waddington joined our gang. Starting her life at ESco in the Corporate Team, diligent, systematic & conscientious Sarah was promoted to Account Executive in our Client Services Team in January 2019 and then promoted AGAIN to Senior Account Executive in 2021. A keen runner and badminton player, Waddles as we call her (we don't) is sociable, fun and always gets stuck in. Sarah is also an avid Liverpool supporter. But don't hold that against her.

Did you know? Sarah also recently completed the Colchester Zoo 10K Stampede in under an hour!

Nicknames: Sar, Wadds

Charlotte Manning

HR Manager

After spending 13 years working in HR within the Higher Education industry, Charlotte wanted a new challenge in a new industry. By pure happy coincidence, an ideal position arose at ESco, only a stone's throw from her home where she lives with her husband and three young children. Charlotte joined ESco in February 2019 and is thoroughly enjoying the constant cake supply and of course getting to grips with the subscriptions industry!

When Charlotte isn't eating cake at work, she is playing hide and seek from her children and especially loves it when the children take ages to find her!

Did you know? Charlotte reached grade 8 in her ballet exams, but now her ballet shoes are just used as a Christmas decoration!

Nicknames: Charlottie, Lottie, Mmuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmm!

Emma McHale

Website Coordinator

Emma originally joined the fulfilment department at ESco in 2003, fresh from university, but left after a couple of years to pursue a career in forensics. Returning after a siesta of 6 years and too much night work, Emma became a member of the Account Management Department in 2011. Today Em works in our IT office after she inadvertently displayed previously unknown technical skills and alongside her day to day duties happily keeps the office supplied with brownies and other baked goods! Aside from baking, Em spends her time outside of work exploring the countryside with camera in hand and likes to escape to the seaside as often as possible.

Did you know? Emma belongs to a local book club who meet up monthly to discuss anything but their latest read, eat nibbles and drink prosecco!

Nicknames: Em

Molly Barrett

Senior Account Executive

Back in January 2019, Molly left her job in the legal sector in London in search for a shorter commute and bigger challenge, moving into the bright lights of Customer Service, she found what she was looking for! After just shy of a year in her new role, Molly came, saw and conquered and moved onto the AE role in Account Management where she now works with a range of publishers. To kick-start 2023, our superstar Molly reached new heights when she stepped into a new role as a Senior Account Executive. Molly spends her free time with her ex-racehorse Bing; hacking, jumping and grooming off all the mud! Or you’ll find Molly out and about with two dogs Fidget and Barney and in the winter months, beating on the shoot.

Did you know? Molly has driven a race car around Brands Hatch Indy Circuit and is also the image on a horse feed bag (Baileys Horse Feed – “Keep Calm”)

Nicknames: Mols, MolsBar

Laura Perry

Senior Project Manager

Laura started working at ESco in 2004 as a Customer Service Executive and progressed to be an Account Manager a few years later. Her love for travel eventually took over in 2009 and after a two year “break” of travelling in Australia and working in London, she re-joined ESco in 2011; today standing as a Senior Project Manager. Aside from her love of exploring new places around the world, she’s a keen cheese and gin lover whilst keeping fit through Yoga, Pilates and lots of countryside walks with her little family and dog (Roofus) in tow.

Did you know? Laura used to sing at local acoustic nights and used to make a regular appearance at the ESco Christmas do's!

Nicknames: L-Pez, Pez, Pezza, P-dizzle, Bag Lady

Jennie Bell

Production & Renewals Supervisor

Jennie joined the mailroom at ESco many years ago, back in 1994. As you can imagine, Jennie's ESco knowledge is outstanding and her standards are beautifully high. In 2003 Jennie joined the Production Team and she's been an invaluable member there ever since. Always with a cup of strong Carte Noir in hand, Jen is our mother hen; loyal, dependable, hard working and generous. Jen is renowned for her mouth watering cupcakes which have sponsored many an ESco charity day. Or Friday. Or day. Outside of the office, you can find Jen baking her giant heart out, doing a spot of gardening or holidaying in sunny Spain with her man.

Did you know? Jennie has single handedly raised £1500 for charity via the medium of cake.

Nicknames: Jen, JB

Charlotte Amos

Client Relationship Manager

Charlotte is one of the newest members of the ESco Account Management Team, having joined in August 2020. After 15 years living and working in London as an Account Manager in design, print and packaging she took a career break to look after her twin baby boys and during this time moved with her family to the Essex countryside. Now keen to bring a fresh enthusiasm and the new skills she learned while juggling twins (not literally) to the workplace it was a happy coincidence that ESco was looking to expand the team at exactly the right moment! In her spare time (when she has some) Charlotte enjoys travel, photography and long bike rides with her husband and children.

Did you know? Before having children, Charlotte was a keen extreme sports fan with a love of heights. She has jumped out of several planes and completed her private pilot’s licence in 2006!

Megan Walden

Marketing Communications Specialist

In January 2019 and fresh out of university, Megan joined ESco as a Customer Service Executive. Since then, our creative spark has moved into a Customer Service Executive / PA & Marketing Assistant role and is working alongside our Deputy Managing Director to help with event planning and growing our social media platforms.

As a Writing and English Literature graduate, Megan enjoys reading and reviewing books in her spare time. She has had a piece of writing published in the Wicked Young Writers Awards anthology for 2019 and is now in the process of writing her own novel!

When she hasn’t got her head stuck in a book, Megan likes going to the gym and playing “freestyle” tennis – she claims to have no talent for keeping the ball inside the court lines. She has also completed two 10km charity runs blindfolded, whilst tied to her best friend at the wrist. Megan’s next challenge is to learn sign language, so she can communicate with everybody.

Did you know? Megan has a Blue Peter badge for building a hedgehog shelter in her local community

Nicknames: Meg

Kimberley Jenkins

Head of Subscription Operations

Our lovely Kimberley joined ESco as a Customer Service Executive in 2009 and has worked in the Customer Service department for most of the 13 years she has been at ESco… Other than a quick pit-stop in the Account Management team in between babies! She is best known in the office for being a go-getter and her organisational skills make her the queen of getting things done. In her spare time, Kimberley enjoys long dog walks, the pub and a good Sunday roast (as long as she doesn’t have to cook it herself). She doesn’t like games, but be prepared for some tough competition if you manage to convince her to play one… She has quite the competitive streak! Life for Kimberley is pretty simple these days… She misses sleep. A lot. When she’s not working on all things subscriptions, she’s frantically running around after a 1 and 3 year old, and cleaning and tidying a house that is never clean or tidy... But we wouldn’t change her for the world.!

Did you know? Kimberley took a gap year to study in America.

Nicknames: Kimbers, Kimmie

Cathy Street

Finance Manager and PA to MD

Cathy started at ESco in 2004 as PA to the Managing Director. What Cathy doesn't know isn't worth knowing - the font of all knowledge. In 2014 Cathy utilised her early work life experience in accounting and sage and took on the accounts management at ESco. You will have to look hard to find her, but you will find her, in the tower office, in solitary confinement. Cathy usually has a calculator in one hand and a vat of very strong coffee in the other, or she'll be in the Managing Directors office, sharing the vat of very strong coffee and discussing... well, nobody knows and nobody dares ask. Outside of the tower, Cathy spends her time walking her dog, being wined and dined by her man and holidaying by exotic seas. Despite the abundance of ready meals and contrary to popular belief, our Cathy is one heck of a cook.

Did you know? Cathy is the daughter of an organist and choirmaster.

Nicknames: Rotweiller (she REALLY gets things done), Aunty Caff, TT

Greg Lentz

Production Operations Manager

When Greg joined ESco in 2002 to manage our hectic and sporadic warehouse, it became clear quite quickly that his people skills were pretty nifty and so, in 2004, Greg became the Mailroom Manager. In 2016, Greg took a hiatus from Production and dipped his toes into the IT pool as a Data Analyst. After seven happy years in the IT department, in October 2023 he returned to Production where his ESco journey started (over twenty years ago!) as the Production Operations Manager. Greg spends most of his time at work drinking too much coffee and being extraordinarily sarcastic. When he isn't busy winding up his poor undeserving colleagues, you will mostly find him entertaining his three beautiful daughters or at the pub.

Did you know? Greg used to be a test pilot for Airfix.

Nicknames: Ghetto (he's from Harlow), Lenzie

Graham Bastiani

Warehouse Manager

Graham joined our Warehouse team in 2008, and took over the management of the Warehouses in 2010. He's a busy boy our Graham, always dashing from pillar to post, with deliveries a plenty, if you're lucky enough to spot him, he'll likely be whizzing round on his forklift, greeting delivery drivers, scheduling outbound and inbound shipments, and liaising with our friendly mailings team. Rarely at his desk, he can barely remember what tea tastes like when it's hot. Graham has a life long love of Arsenal FC (don't hold it against him), and enjoys fishing, spending time with his famly and long walks with his lovely Springer Spaniel, Tia.

Did you know? Graham broke his leg in three places while playing football.

Nicknames: Legend, Grum

Ellie Holden

Assistant to Customer Service Department Manager

Ellie started with ESco at the beginning of 2019 as a Customer Service Executive, before joining the Corporate Team later that year. She went on to become a Senior Customer Service Specialist in 2020 and most recently has been promoted to Assistant to the Customer Service Department Manager, which came into effect at the beginning of 2022. Before joining ESco, Ellie also earned her degree in Education and Childhood Studies.

Ellie spends her spare time getting stuck into a good film or television series – particularly psychological thrillers, much to the dismay of her husband! When she’s not watching the latest crime or thriller story, she’s reading the novel about it instead – or listening to a variety of different music (although she has a soft spot for soul).

Every weekend, Ellie enjoys going for hikes (especially if there is a pub involved) or going to the theatre. Her biggest guilty pleasure is spending money on candles and wax melts… She claims to have enough to open her own shop!

Did you know? Ellie has a twin brother and, to answer the most commonly asked question, no they cannot read each other’s minds. Or at least that’s what they want us to think…

Nicknames: El, Eleanora, Els, Els Bells

Alistair Wood

Operations & Development Director

Alistair hopped aboard the ESco bus in early 2005, when he was but the young, tender age of 11. With over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, Al is our Operations and Development Director. Boy does this guy love a gadget. Al is responsible for constantly pushing us into the future, so fast, you'd think he had his own time machine. When he isn't visiting the year 3000, Al loves the great outdoors, photography and playing in a band as well as being an elder at his local church. He has three young, active (VERY active) boys and a beautiful wife to boot. Al is always busy, planning an adventure with his kids, or researching the latest publishing software or Apple gadget.

Did you know? Alistair grew up in the Philippines! He also spent a year touring Eastern Europe with an indie rock band after uni.

Nicknames: Al, Techie Care Bear, Geek

Susan Duffin

Managing Director

Susan founded ESco in 1984. She has worked in almost every role at ESco during the last 30+ years, including database writing, sales, purchasing, warehouse management, copywriting, data prep, subscriptions handling, system testing, report writing, account management, HR, book-keeping, PR, customer service, Agony Aunt, cleaner....the list goes on. Susan is our busy, knowledgable and dependable Managing Director. Our glue and our ESco hero. In the office, you will usually find her clutching a hot coffee whilst coaching, mentoring, managing, quoting, lunching with clients or buying doughnuts for her loyal team. Susan is a passionate Christian who, in any spare time she has, enjoys spending time with her family, entertaining friends, keeping fit, cooking and reading.

Did you know? Susan went to Romania in 2002 with “Hope for the Future”, a local Christian charity focussing on relieving poverty and hardship

Nicknames: Sue, Mum, “Ganny”, She Who Must Be Obeyed , Suzie Q

Clare Gill

HR & Business Operations Manager

Clare first joined ESco in 2003 in our converted pig building, starting out in the Customer Service Department. Just a year later, in 2004, Clare began her Business Management degree and so reduced her hours and took on the role of PA to our MD. A few years passed, Clare joined our Client Services Team, got married, became Client Services Team Manager, had two beautiful curly blonde babies, and did a whole lot of learning. Now, a very different Clare to the one who joined us in 2003, Clare is our busy HR & Business Operations Manager, where she spends a lot of time "guiding" our jolly IT department onto the right path to meet their deadlines and liaising with the Account Management Department she knows so well to constantly improve the way we work. Outside of ESco, Clare spends a great deal of her time discussing Dinosaurs and Paw Patrol with son Henry and trying to work out how her daughter Florence has managed to con her into giving a second pudding. Again. Clare is also a keen baker, foodie and gym lover. Sorry, GIN lover.

Did you know? When Clare was 18, she took a gap year with three friends to go travelling around Europe. She managed two countries and stayed for a grand total of two weeks. Apparently the Hostels weren't the Five Star luxury she'd hoped for.

Nicknames: Clare Bear, Clarabella, Gilly Willy, Clarey

Louise McHale

Deputy Managing Director

Louise joined our Customer Service team at ESco way back in 2006. Working her way through various departments at ESco, Louise set up our QA controls, before progressing on to become Direct Mail Account Manager. Then after the birth of her first baby, Louise moved on and conquered the role of HR Manager and PR guru, with one hand working to keep our jolly staff...jolly, and with the other she pizazzed our website with perhaps rather too many mentions of cake...

Louise's passion for ESco continues; having returned from maternity leave after the birth of her second child (Tilly), she is further expanding the strings on her bow, by joining our top class Account Management Department, assisting with the delivery of quality services to our successful publishers in a digital age. Louise continues to work on some of our client accounts alongside looking after our brand, and managing ESco Connect with the organisation of all associated events and communication.

In her spare time, Louise is a keen shopper, socialiser, Body Pump enthusiast and Mum. You'll mostly find Louise with Poppy and Tilly hosting “Mother's Meetings” for their friends at home, enjoying a drink on the decking with her husband, or, if she's super lucky, at the pub.

Did you know? When she was 17, Louise did work experience as... a live mannequin in a busy clothing store in Cambridge!

Nicknames: Lois Lane, Stop-go-Stephanie, Lou

Lyle Pascoe

IT Executive & Web Admin

Lyle joined ESco in the summer of 2019 as an IT Executive after spending 3 years as a freelance graphic designer working on everything from simple logo's to full blown websites and branding. With a love of tech and problem-solving becoming part of our IT team was a natural fit. During his spare time he can often be found clutching a controller (or keyboard and mouse) playing the latest and greatest video games or watching Formula 1 - even if that means getting up ridiculously early in the morning to watch it live.

Did you know? Lyle has one Xbox game with a full gamerscore

Nicknames: LP

Erica Callander

Senior Account Manager

Remember, remember the fifth of November (2007) when Erica joined ESco? With her background in Sales and Marketing and her Blue Peter badge, Erica is well equipped to tackle the challenges of being an Account Manager. When away from her desk she can usually be found either playing tennis, listening to tennis or watching her two young children play tennis. Come on Andy!

Did you know? Erica captained the Suffolk County Tennis Team.

Nicknames: Erica-ca-ca-ca-ca

Wesley Atkins

Renewals Manager

Wesley joined our IT Team at ESco in October 2010. Since that time, life has changed somewhat for Wes, moving to the Production Team in 2011, getting married in 2014, buying his first house in 2015 and in 2022 being promoted to the wonderful Renewals Manager that he is today. With his quiet and unexpected dry sense of humour, Wes fits perfectly into the Production Team. During working hours you will mostly find Wes setting up documents, running IT tasks and generally getting things done.

Since 2015, Wes has either been pounding or gliding gracefully through the streets of Halstead when he decided to take up running and cycling. For extra healthy good measure, Wes also decided 2015 was the year to become a vegan. It is only since writing this “memoir” that Wes has realised that either he only truly “found himself” after marrying the love of his life, or perhaps he needed some hobbies to get out of the house.

Did you know? In September 2015, Wes played the most almighty prank, in faking his own death. He was knocked off his bike on his way to work, spent a good portion of his time laying in a ditch and lost all memory of the incident. (Wes is no longer permitted to ride a bike). Wes also, quite fascinatingly studied Meteorology and Oceanography at UEA.

Nicknames: Wesley Snipes, Michael Carrick

Clare Reid

Senior Customer Service Specialist

In 2013, when Clare decided she no longer bounced very well, she decided to stop working with horses and joined ESco’s Finance and Admin Team. She then moved over into the Corporate Team in 2018, before finally settling into a Customer Service role. Since then, Clare has moved up the ranks into her current position as a Senior Customer Service Specialist in the digital team.

Clare spends all her spare time with her white, hairy horse called Borris! She particularly enjoys hurtling around the countryside with the local hunt or at dressage, show jumping, showing and cross-country competitions. He’s always in the rosettes… Which is unsurprising for a horse with a modelling contract (no, you didn’t read that wrong)!

Did you know? Clare has a master’s degree in Equine Science

Nicknames: Clare Bear (but don’t call her that!)

Sam Whittaker

Client Relationship Manager

Sam joined our Customer Service team in summer 2015, working his way through the department to Senior Customer Service Specialist in 2018. Then in 2019 Sam made the bold move over to our Client Services Team, working as an Account Executive – with a new perspective, looking at the other side of subscriptions! Due to his hard work and determination Sam was promoted to Account Manager in 2021.

When he isn't busy tip tapping on his keyboard and avoiding being given yet another new nickname by the team, you can find Sam clutching a bottle of whisky or two. That's not related to the nickname calling, but actually because Sam is a colour blind, impassioned whisky collector! He is also studying for his Master's Degree in Military History in his spare time, having already received a BA in Modern History. You don't meet someone like Sam every day.

Did you know? Sam is a Founding Member of the Lakes Distillery, he owns a bottle of every whisky they have ever produced and even has part of one of their casks in his wedding ring!

Nicknames: Just Sam, Witwicky

Connor Smith

Project Manager

Back in September 2016, Connor joined team ESco, starting with a speedy crash course with our crème de la crème subscriptions training whizz, Kimberley Jenkins, in Customer Service. Before Connor could barely finish his coffee, he was swiftly moved to the Account Management Department, where he is now as one of our busy Project Managers. Connor's renowned for his wide array of accent impressions and a (slightly dark) sense of humour that will see you through the bluest of blue Mondays. Not to mention he is the deliverer of Krispy Crèmes.

When fashionista Connor isn't in the office, you'll either find him at the pub in his tartan joggers, working out at the gym or learning Japanese on Duolingo with a rum and coke in one hand a snack in the other.

Did you know? Connor has a diploma in Swedish Body Massage... apparently.

Nicknames: Colin, Connork, Marv, Snackattack, Conro, Connorkykins

Al-fee Phelps

Customer Service Department Manager

Al-fee started her journey with ESco in April 2017 as a Customer Service Executive. Just two years later in July 2019, with a bountiful knowledge of our clients and processes, she stepped into the position of Assistant to Customer Service Department Manager. After another successful two years, Al-fee then moved into her current role as Customer Service Department Manager in October 2021.

When she's not hard at work, Al-fee enjoys listening to music and going to gigs; her favourite gig was seeing Blink-182 from a private box in the O2. In her spare time, she also plays roller derby as part of a team (and she’s WHEELY good).

Most mornings, Al-fee will head down to the gym for a workout or her local pool for a swim to start the day. Her team in the Customer Service Department would describe her as kind, helpful and supportive – she also is the infamous DJ for “Disco Fridays” in her department, which helps to spread that Friday feeling.

Did you know? In Al-fee’s previous job, her team broke the world record for the most people dressed up as Spiderman. (I think we’re going to need some photographic evidence of that one…)

Nicknames: Fonz

Want to join the team?

Head over to our vacancies section to see how you could get involved.