Chris Ward – Director

After graduating from Durham University with a BSc in Natural Sciences, Chris started his career at Grant Thornton where he gained his ACA and qualified as a chartered accountant. He subsequently spent five years in the City of London, latterly at Numis Securities, dealing with AIM and Official List companies before joining Thomas Hardy in May 2008. Chris has worked in various departments across the business, is a member of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) with whom he gained his IBD Diploma in Brewing in 2011 and is a member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. He sits on the board of Thomas Hardy Holdings Limited and the two operational companies, Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Limited and Thomas Hardy Kendal Limited.

Neil Voss - Group Finance Director

Neil became Group Finance Director in June 2000. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant with experience in finance, strategic planning, beer manufacturing, distribution and pub retailing. Coming from a regional firm of chartered accountants, he joined Eldridge Pope & Co plc in 1990 and became technical director in 1995. In 1997, he supported Peter Ward in the MBO of the production facilities at Eldridge Pope which was the launch pad for the group today. Along with Peter and Rae Ward, he has been with the company since its inception and is a Director of Thomas Hardy Holdings Limited as well as the two operational subsidiaries.

Gary Todd– Burtonwood Site Director

Gary graduated from Herriot-Watt University in 1988 with a BSc Hons in Chemistry. He joined Grand Metropolitan Brewing and spent most of his early years at Ushers learning the brewing trade and obtaining his brewing exams. He was seconded to Miller and worked out in America for several months before returning to Ushers to become the Head Brewer. On the closure of Ushers in 2000, he joined Peter Ward at Thomas Hardy as the Site Manager at Dorchester and then Tiverton where he managed both the brewing and packaging functions. After the closures of the two sites in 2003 and 2004, he headed north to run the Burtonwood site and was made a Director of Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Limited in 2012. Along with the rest of the team, Gary is proud of the Quality and Service that Thomas Hardy delivers to it’s customers on a consistent basis.

Peter Armstrong - Kendal Site Director

Peter was made a Director of Thomas Hardy Kendal Limited in 2012 and has been with Thomas Hardy since July 1999. He has a degree in Engineering and has experience in packaging, blending and processing, logistics, quality control and general management. He has been at the Kendal site for 22 years since joining Scottish and Newcastle in 1990. In 2002 /03 he oversaw the installation and commissioning of the new bottling line at Burtonwood.

Andrew Zubel - Financial Controller & IT Co-ordinator

Andrew previously worked for a subsidiary of Clarks as a Management Accountant where he was responsible for the company's IT infrastructure. He joined Eldridge Pope in 1996 and was involved in the implementation of a new core financial package as well as the setting up of Thomas Hardy's administrative systems. He then spent two years at a software company as the project manager responsible for implementing Thomas Hardy's IT infrastructure, before joining the company, in his current position, in January 2001.

Peter Ward – Founder (deceased)

Peter studied botany and biochemistry at Queen Elizabeth College London before joining Courage as a graduate trainee. After over 30 years at Courage, he set up the brewing and packaging company Thomas Hardy. Peter was a past president of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD), a council member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers, a trustee of the Incorporated Brewers Benevolent Society and used to retain a scientific involvement in brewing and packaging via the technical committee of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). He will be greatly missed but may his legacy of quality, service, people and integrity live on.