Sowerby Bridge based worldwide manufacturer of stage and theatre drapes are pleased to announce the appointment of new Chief Financial Officer, Lauren Kellett.
Lauren will replace Nick Warton who will leave the business in December after almost four years of service.
Having worked for some of the biggest names in finance, Lauren brings with her 13 years of financial experience. Before her role at J&C Joel, Lauren spent three years as Director of Finance at West Yorkshire based textiles firm, Camira Fabrics – giving her valuable knowledge of fabrics and the textiles industry both in the UK and internationally.
Lauren was also Finance Manager for Colliers International (UK) and spent two years within the London Audit team at BDO, a major accounting firm with a global presence.
Graduating from the University of Manchester in 2005 with a Degree in Physics, Lauren began her professional career as an Audit Junior at Shelley Stock Hutter. Lauren became an ACA Chartered Accountant in 2008, since then she has established herself as a finance professional through a quick succession of development and promotions.
Lauren will sit at the helm of J&C Joel’s Finance and IT department; assuming full responsibility for the company’s finances including planning, reporting and auditing. Working closely alongside the rest of the senior management team, Lauren will support business growth across the world.
Established in 1978, J&C Joel is a family-owned business and is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of flame retardant fabrics and flooring for the entertainment and event industry – providing front of house theatre drapes, stage backdrops, acoustic drapes, projection screens and an array of stage engineering solutions.
World-renowned for its creativity and high-quality fabric and drapery solutions, J&C Joel has been involved in some of the most prestigious events and projects around the world including the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Coliseum in London and more recently, the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai to name a few. The company has also worked on a wealth of high-profile reality TV, light entertainment shows and global music tours, including popstar Shakira’s set for the closing ceremony of the tennis Davis Cup and Sam Smith’s ‘Thrill of it All’ tour in 2018.
Following her appointment, Lauren commented: “I am delighted to join the team at J&C Joel, the company has such a rich heritage and is well respected within the events industry. The team has been very welcoming, and I am looking forward to working with everybody to support the business in its continual growth.”
James Wheelwright, CEO of J&C Joel added: “On behalf of the company, I would like to welcome Lauren to J&C Joel. Her experience in the finance industry, as well as her knowledge of fabrics is very valuable to our team here at J&C Joel and I have every confidence she will be a great addition to our senior management team. We have expanded significantly in recent years and are currently working on a brand-new catalogue to showcase our innovative products and services to our clients around the world.”
J&C Joel currently employs over 130 people across its six offices worldwide, including Europe Middle East, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macau.
