MEET THE TEAM BEHIND YOUR TEAM – ANNETTE WHITTAKER

Annette is the Group Director of Finance who manages a strong team at Kukri Sports Head Office in Preston, whilst supporting all the Kukri offices around the world in their day to day finance requirements.

What is your background?

“Born in Galway I grew up in Ireland, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Commerce from NUI Galway, followed by a post graduate degree in Computer Programming and System Analysis.

In 2001 I moved to the UK and having started my Finance career in practice I qualified as an Accountant under CIMA in 2009.

I worked in Liverpool in my previous role to Kukri for 15 years as the company’s Financial controller, and in February 2017 was given the opportunity to join Kukri as their Group Finance Controller. It proved a very good move as one year later I was promoted to Group Director of Finance, a role that I love.”

What do you enjoy about working at Kukri?

“It may sound like a cliché, but I really like the people who make up the team at Kukri. Based out of our head office at Preston, we have a fantastic ethos, not just within the Finance department, but across the whole business.

I work with a lot of talented individuals from Product Design & Development to Sales to Systems, all of whom work together, with one goal help Kukri succeed in the marketplace.”

What do you enjoy away from work?

“I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, before a recent injury I was a keen runner, my daily exercise now involves walking two unruly dogs!

I love to watch Moto GP and being Irish of course, we as a family have to watch the Rugby.”

An interesting fact about you

“Not one I would ideally want to share in work, but  growing up in Ireland my sports participation involved the Gaelic Games (Gaelic Football, Handball, Rounders, Camogie – in which I competed at county level).”

What motivates you?

“That’s an easy one, my family! – and the faint hope that one day I may win the lottery!”