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About Us

Meet the Team

Meet the Thanet Earth Senior Leadership Team.


Chris Butler

Managing Director

Chris has been the Managing Director, Executive Board Member and Statutory Director at Thanet Earth since 2019, he is responsible for the day to day running of the business. Chris has spent the last 25 years in the fresh produce industry previously working for Fresca, one of the main shareholders in Thanet Earth. He has held senior leadership roles across a variety of fresh produce categories, working with primary producers and global supply chain partners supplying into the UK.

Emma Bullock

Head of People

Emma has been in her role at Thanet Earth since 2012. She is responsible for delivering a comprehensive HR service to the business and developing the HR strategy as well as playing an integral part in building the business strategy for the next 5 years.

Mark Huckstep

Financial Director

Mark has been with the business since it started in 2009.  He sits on the Board and heads up the Finance department. Mark is responsible for oversight of the financial function across the site, ensuring the business has the financial information and analysis needed to run effectively, is appropriately funded, and meets all its statutory reporting responsibilities.

Rob James

Technical Director

Rob has worked at Thanet Earth since its inception in 2008. As Technical Director he is responsible for all aspects of product quality, sustainability, research projects, innovation, development, environment, and food safety. He also sits on numerous high profile industry boards representing Thanet Earth.

Tim Jennings

Head of Operations

Tim has worked at Thanet Earth since March 2020. Before this he worked within the Fresca Group with Mack Multiples and FreshPLUS at Paddock Wood, covering several departments including QA, Ripening and Production. He is responsible for all the operational areas at Thanet Earth.

James Provins

Head of Commercial

James has worked at Thanet Earth since 2009 in several departments including QC, Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial for the last 7 years. He is responsible for all commercial aspects of Thanet Earth as well as heading up the Community Outreach team.

Martin Rattigan

Head of Procurement

Martin has worked at Thanet Earth since 2010 all of which has been spent within the procurement department. His primary responsibility is to oversee the purchasing decisions of all raw materials brought onto site, as well as the crop planning for all six glasshouses.

Latest News

Official opening of UK’s first Centre of Excellence in greenhouse growing

07 June 2024

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Thanet Earth Lettuce

10 May 2024

Thanet Earth have recently moved into the production of leafy salads. Our Lettuce glasshouse based in Chichester has 2.6 hectares of lit production, enabling us

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Thanet Earth at CCCU

19 April 2024

The group of Marketing students thoroughly enjoyed listening to our story, finding out about our customers, our business and sustainability, with a focus on marketing

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