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Our People
The team at Online Derby possess expert knowledge in paper and print, and work as an extension of your business.
Meet some of the team:
Ricky Hirshfield
IT Director
Originally from Chatham in Kent, Online Derby Board Director Ricky Hirshfield's childhood dream was to become an architect. However, after a brief dalliance in retail, an opening in paper merchanting presented itself in the heady days of the mid 80's, and he's been steering us through the fundamental changes in IT ever since.
Home for Ricky remains in Kent, with wife Nicola, who he met on his 18th birthday, and daughter, Charley. They also have Milo, the Maltese Terrier, who is described as "a cat that barks".
Away from work, Ricky paints (mainly portraits) and pursues a longstanding interest in photography. Otherwise, the family enjoys the company of friends, travelling, movies and eating out. Charley's interests have also been an influence on Dad, which include online war games and television's "Made in Chelsea" – a strange choice for an ardent West Ham fan, but this is also a man who goes to Taylor Swift and Take That concerts.
How did you get into the industry?
By accident…. I was offered 3 jobs simultaneously with Barclays Bank, an engineering company based in Germany as a trainee draftsman and a clearance paper merchant. The advert to work in the samples department measuring bulk, shade, grammage and comparing it against other grades sounded alluring. What did I know? Certainly a lot less than I know now!
If you weren't a paper merchant, what do you think you'd have done instead?
I wanted to be an engineer or architect, My A levels were in Art and design, Engineering Drawing and Art Photography.
In the film Online Derby who would play you (any actor, living or dead)?
James Dean, because he's my great grandfather.
If you could have a slap-up lunch with any person/persons (again, can be alive or dead), who would you choose?
Mohamad Ali, Jon Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams, it wouldn't be boring.
Can you tell us your favourite fact about Online Derby?
Mike Gee never rants and raves, only Nick Gee will know why!
Can you tell us an interesting/unusual fact about yourself?
I once took photographs of Vicki Michelle, Toyah Wilcox, Gareth Hunt, Christopher Biggins, Sharon Davis and Jilly Johnson for Hello magazine.
What's the best piece of advice you'd give to the younger version of yourself?
The same advice my first boss ever gave me, "always tell the truth about everything" he was very earnest, "then when you make a really big mistake you can lie and they'll believe you!" I haven't used this advice yet.
What is the best thing about what you do at Online Derby?
I know it's a cliché, but the people I work with have made such a difference to my life.
If we were to give you £10 to place on a long-shot bet, what would it be?
A second Brexit referendum before March 2019 with a 70% vote to remain.
If we were to give you £1,000 to donate to charity, which would it be?
Demelza house children's hospice. They will be very grateful, thanks very much Mike and Nick, generous.
If you won £10,000,000 on the lottery, what would be on top of your shopping list (assuming family, friends, charitable donations & long-shot bets have been covered)?
A few acres of land, Mark Twain said it was a good investment because they don't make it anymore.
What would be your specialised subject on Mastermind?
Where old sayings come from, like "saved by the bell" and "freeze the balls off a brass monkey". For some reason I lack the capacity to remember anything useful or intellectual.
Who (and why) would be your phone a friend on Who wants to be a millionaire?
My wife, she thinks she knows everything…. That was a joke! I'd call Alexa, she does know everything.
Why should we continue to use paper?
For environmental reasons, it's renewable, sustainable, recyclable, carbon positive encompassed in a mature industry that's learnt to be environmentally clean over hundreds of years. Digital media uses unrenewable materials, needs recharging every 10 hours and forms a dangerous part of the internet of things which is vulnerable to the growing threat of cyber-crime.
Why should people buy paper from Online Derby?
They should buy paper from people they enjoy dealing with, who don't let them down, who actually care and do their best to keep their promises. I think that describes Online Derby.
Andrew Bruguier
Marketing and Sustainability Manager
Marketing and Sustainability Manager, Andrew Bruguier (Bruge), was raised in South East London and now resides in the Kent countryside along with daughter, Emily, and a Chihuahua mix named Maddie.
After completing a degree at Lancaster University in 1995, Bruge embarked on a career in the paper industry, enjoying positions in sales and purchasing before finally making his mark in Marketing. He joined Online Derby in 2011 to take up the role of (what was then) Marketing Manager, and has been instrumental in the re-launch of Revive and Online Derby's brand change in 2018.
Obsessed with cricket, Bruge turns out for High Halstow, but he has played at schools county level and at Premier league level, batting against test match professionals, no less.
Away from the stumps Bruge enjoys good food and reading politics and history. Travelling is also a passion, and over the years he has made Northern Cyprus his home from home. I wonder if they have a cricket team?
How did you get into the industry?
Graduated from University and had a job working inside sales for a street furnishing company in deepest darkest Deptford. By chance, a friend of mine worked for a paper merchant, and they had a vacancy, so off I went for the interview one morning, and started the following week. That was 1995.
If you weren't a paper merchant, what do you think you'd have done instead?
Definitely a jockey.
In the film Online Derby who would play you (any actor, living or dead)?
Bob Hoskins.
If you could have a slap-up lunch with any person/persons (again, can be alive or dead), who would you choose?
I'd like to meet someone famous like a President (can you imagine someone like Barack Obama or even astronomer Neil Armstrong or the like), and just listen to their experiences and have a chat with them. Got to enjoy a train journey once from Liverpool to Euston with the late John Smith MP, who was at that time leader of the Labour Party. A really nice guy, 3 hours flashed by listening to him.
Can you tell us your favourite fact about Online Derby?
That the name came from Denise and Maureen (I believe).
Can you tell us an interesting/unusual fact about yourself?
English is my second language. My mother was from Hong Kong, I learnt to speak Cantonese Chinese before speaking English. Great for getting a table in a restaurant when it's packed.
What's the best piece of advice you'd give to the younger version of yourself?
Don't go into the paper trade, it'll never last.
What is the best thing about what you do at Online Derby?
Get to see what we produce being used – i.e. collateral, swatches etc. and then improving these pieces by listening to the teams.
If we were to give you £10 to place on a long-shot bet, what would it be?
Charlton to win the Premiership one day…… Leicester and the Tinker Man have given all us all hope… one day.
If we were to give you £1,000 to donate to charity, which would it be?
NSPCC. They do amazing work, but it's a shame they have to do so.
If you won £10,000,000 on the lottery, what would be on top of your shopping list (assuming family, friends, charitable donations & long-shot bets have been covered)?
A nice house in the countryside with some land and stables, so I could learn to ride, (poor horse….!) plus a holiday home in Northern Cyprus.
What would be your specialised subject on Mastermind?
Fast food eateries in Medway 2003 – present.
Who (and why) would be your phone a friend on Who wants to be a millionaire?
Definitely Martin Wheeler, he knows everything – I'm not taking the mickey either. He is a clever bloke.
Why should we continue to use paper?
Because it's sustainable and delivers results stretching back thousands of years.
Why should people buy paper from Online Derby?
Because we are not a massive unfeeling company, but a self-financed family business run by real & approachable people. No one wants our customers to win more than us.
Sarah Erswell
Assistant Management Accountant
Sarah was born on the Isle of Sheppey, but has lived in Sittingbourne all her life and has worked for Online Derby since March 2011.
Married to Steve for 12 years, they have a Jack Russell cross called Rubie who they dote on. Otherwise Sarah describes herself as very much a family person and is often inseparable from sister, Paula.
AAT qualified, Sarah is considering studying to become ACCA qualified – her ambition is to be in charge of an accounts team one day.
Sarah wins the prize for having perhaps the most diverse work experience: medical manufacturing, warehouse distribution, car hire, car sales, children's services and a stint at an electricity power plant.
Away from work, Sarah loves meeting up with friends sitting and talking the nights away – good quality gin may be involved. She occasionally enjoys camping to VW meets and is a devotee of yoga.
How did you get into the industry?
In one way or another the whole family has been in the paper industry at some point. My dad made it, my Mum sells it and my sister works for a subscription company and some of her clients are our customers.
If you weren't a paper merchant, what do you think you'd have done instead?
I've always wanted to do accounts from quite a young age, and I like working for companies that have a manufacturing or stock component to them.
In the film Online Derby who would play you (any actor, living or dead)?
I like Ruth Jones – I think she is funny and in my earlier years I had a similar dress sense to her character Nessa in Gavin and Stacey.
If you could have a slap-up lunch with any person/persons (again, can be alive or dead), who would you choose?
Winston Churchill – I have always loved the stories from the world wars and I think he would be very interesting to listen to.
Can you tell us your favourite fact about Online Derby?
I think my favourite fact about Online Derby is how the name came about.
Can you tell us an interesting/unusual fact about yourself?
I travelled around Australia for 9 months. Mostly on my own but made some friends on the way. Some of whom I am still in touch with now over 15 years later.
What's the best piece of advice you'd give to the younger version of yourself?
You are ok, you can cope with anything life throws at you and always remember your family are there for you.
What is the best thing about what you do at Online Derby?
I think the variety of my role is what keeps me interested. I often get involved in lots of different aspects from suppliers, to stock, to indent and paper plans.
If we were to give you £10 to place on a long-shot bet, what would it be?
I would put a bet on for the year Prince Charles will come to the throne.
If we were to give you £1,000 to donate to charity, which would it be?
It would be a cancer charity – lost a couple of close family members to different kinds of cancer.
If you won £10,000,000 on the lottery, what would be on top of your shopping list (assuming family, friends, charitable donations & long-shot bets have been covered)?
Another long trip to Australia and a Vauxhall Tigra convertible.
What would be your specialised subject on Mastermind?
I don't have anything that I have great knowledge of – the team might say Fixing stock in serials from an accounts point of view in Exchequer and my family would say our family tree as we have been tracing this for a number of years now together as a family.
Who (and why) would be your phone a friend on Who wants to be a millionaire?
My Mum as she has been playing in quiz teams for over 20 years.
Why should we continue to use paper?
There is nothing like holding a good book – a kindle just does not compare.
Why should people buy paper from Online Derby?
Because we have great colleagues who offer unparalleled customer service and will always try to assist anyone if they can.
Want to find out more?