Safeguarding individuals and property since 1997

About Sophie Phipps

Our Chief Operating Officer, Sophie, is instrumental in leading our strategic vision and company goals. 

With expertise in operational management, strategic delivery, leadership, and performance development, she leads the team to be the very best they can be.

Sophie is a strong advocate for building lasting relationships both domestically and internationally, helping to strengthen the position of the Apreco brand in the global marketplace.

She frequently attends trade shows, manufacturing exhibitions, and industry forums, where she continues to expand her knowledge and embrace new ideas and best practices.

Soph’s door is always open, and she is never too busy to catch up with the team, suppliers, and trade partners.

Standing still is not a concept she understands!

About Duncan Spall

A successful and experienced Sales leader, Duncan joined Apreco in September 2024, bringing 25 years of Sales and Marketing experience.

Focused on driving long-term success through prioritising customers’ needs. Duncan is dedicated to putting customers first, ensuring Apreco offers the best products, service and value possible, through working closely with clients to understand their challenges and issues.

Duncan values transparency, honesty and integrity which aligns perfectly with Apreco.

About Mike Hodges

With over two decades of leadership as Managing Director, Mike now serves as Chairman of Apreco. Renowned for his deep technical expertise and strategic vision, Mike has been instrumental in establishing Apreco as a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of Pressure Relief Vents and air pressure stabilisers. His ongoing commitment and industry insight continue to drive innovation and excellence throughout the company.

About Ann-Marie Thomas

Ann-Marie, better known as “Murry,” is the life and soul of the team — always ready for a chat and never short of a smile. 

A natural organiser and true people-person, she keeps the fire sector running seamlessly while ensuring every customer receives first-class service.

With her quick wit, warm personality, and endless energy, Murry has a knack for keeping spirits high and the team on their toes.

Whether she’s solving problems, supporting colleagues, or handing out biscuits alongside words of encouragement, she brings a positive energy that lights up the office.

When she’s not looking after clients, you’ll find her networking at trade shows, building relationships, and proudly representing Apreco wherever she goes.

After 16 incredible years with Apreco, Murry’s passion, positivity, and infectious energy remain just as strong as the day she joined.

About Elias Simon Jacob

Elias brings extensive industry knowledge and experience across the healthcare, datacentre, and fire sectors. 

He is continually building new relationships while strengthening existing ones with customers. Within Apreco, Elias provides internal training and oversees the sales team, ensuring customers receive the best advice and support whenever needed.

Qualified in ‘Specialist Ventilation in Healthcare Premises’, he works closely with consultants and design architects at the earliest stages of hospital project development, helping to shape effective design solutions from the outset.

He also provides on-site support, assisting with installation queries alongside service and maintenance coordination, helping to ensure Apreco remains a leading name in air movement products.

Assisting the fire industry with his technical expertise, Elias is often found attending and exhibiting at shows, both in the UK and internationally.

Working closely with our Commercial Sales Director, he delivers technical customer support and training, while staying up to date with the latest legislation and industry developments.

About Matt Johnstone

Matt brings over 11 years of engineering experience and leads our engineering team.

He works closely with external test houses, overseeing the design and implementation of testing processes to ensure our product portfolio not only meets but exceeds industry standards.

Always looking ahead, Matt actively explores new and innovative ideas and keeps up to date with the latest developments in engineering and manufacturing, helping to drive continuous improvement across Apreco.

Matt is our COO’s right-hand man, providing ideas, solutions and working continuously on the company’s strategic objectives.

He can often be found in a telephone box, changing from a suit to a cape at a moment’s notice! He is Super!

About Jack Hopkins

Meet Jack, our Graduate Design Engineer. Jack joined the team in November 2025 after graduating from Swansea University.

Since joining, he has contributed to a wide range of projects, from supporting the sales team with bespoke design solutions to working alongside the logistics department to improve packaging processes through the development of a custom box cutter.

Jack works closely with the production team, implementing drawing revisions and providing support with any quality issues that arise. Jack has also completed an internal project requested by our COO, Sophie – after many months of others trying, Jack got the new balancing cabinet over the line!

We don’t want to say that the Engineering Manager works him hard… but Jack requests 2 spoonfuls of coffee in every cup!

About Sylwia Koziel

There are not many roles in manufacturing that Sylwia hasn’t mastered, now as Coperations Manager she liaises between internal & external departmental managers ensuring our manufacturing process is efficient and on schedule.

Sylwia also manages our logistics department from procurement to despatch.

If you have a question regarding manufacturing or shipping, Sylwia will have the answer.

About Holly Stephens

Life is better when you wear Cowboy Boots – Holly is our very own cowgirl!

Loving numbers for over 18 years she has a wealth of accounting knowledge.
Holly does it all from managing and interpreting the daily finances to management accounts & reporting and always with a smile and happy to help the team in whatever capacity.

Basically, if it involves numbers, Holly is all over it!

About Stuart Fellows

Stu’s many life experiences stand him in good stead for the many hats he wears at Apreco! 

As part of the engineering team, he manages drawings, renders, and quality, as well as maintaining external materials and overseeing updates to our product website content.

Working closely with all departments — from sales through to the workshop — Stu helps ensure everything runs smoothly and stays on track.

You may find Stu onsite in one of the many hospitals we have supplied, conducting site maintenance and site surveys, he travels far and wide championing the Apreco brand.

In addition, he provides internal IT support (some of us need it more than others!) and oversees internal training compliance, ensuring we remain aligned with the latest standards.

Stu is our ‘go-to-man’!

About Blake Patton

Supporting the Operations Manager, Blake plays a key role in the planning, coordination, and monitoring of all our manufacturing activities. 

His sharp analytical mind provides the senior management team with accurate reportage, and he is all over our internal ERP system monitoring costs, stock, purchase orders, and the smooth running of logistics activities, ensuring all targets are being met.

He is a trusted support for both our internal teams and valued customers; he is always ready to lend a hand to ensure our processes run smoothly and customer needs are met.

Blake might be our youngest member of the team however, his contribution, dedication and huge smile lift the team every day!