Simon Wakefield
(Managing Director).
Simon first set foot in a coffee plantation when he was about six years old, being led by his father. Since then his experience has covered training in a cocoa company with logistics for 2 years, 3 months on the London futures market (which has since morphed into the exchange as we seeit now) and finally moving onto origin training in Papua New Guinea, firmly sealing coffee in his blood! He joined DRW in 1986 and now runs the family business. Simon was one of the original creators of the SCAE and became the first UK Co-ordinator sitting on the first Board of Directors. He has served as a warehouse inspector for the Coffee Trade Federation of London. He is a trade arbitrator for both technical and quality claims.
Santiago Barahona
(Head Coffee Trader).
Santiago came from Ecuador to the UK in 2002 to complete his studies in agriculture and sustainability. Work experience includes a range of agricultural development projects in Ecuador. He has worked in a well known London roaster whilst completing his studies 2002. Native Spanish speaker.
Alok Vohora
(Coffee Trader).
Alok is part of a long establised East African coffee family. A third generation coffee merchant, he has worked in many different stages of the journey a bean takes from tree to cup: in the field on a Tanzanian Estate, a Rwandan Mill, a Kenyan Export house, an International Trade business supplying the largest roasters in the world and with Roasters and Retailers. Multilingual.
Nick Thompson
(Finance Director)
Carol Fletcher
(Management Accountant - ACCA)
Carol's wealth of experience started in recruitment and manufacturing. She joined DRW as part of our move to bringing all aspects of Company finance in-house.
Lynn Cranfield
(Office Manager).
Lynn has been with DRW since 1994 handling finance, bank related matters and clearances to clients.
Derick Fredricks
(Quality Controller).
Derick is our hands on quality controller, who daily evaluates both pre-shipment and landed samples prior to passing them clearance. This includes defect counting, screening, moisture reading and cupping. He also manages the general duties of the team.
Adriana Uller
(Logistics Controller).
In charge of shipping, documents and onward deliveries to roasters.
Sophie de Poulpiquet
Logistics Controller (whilst Adriana on maternity leave).
Sophie has worked in both export and import sectors in the UK, Chile and Brazil. Native French speaker and also fluent in Spanish & Portugese.