Meet our team

Katy joined Lay & Wheeler in January 2016 and became Managing Director in the summer of the same year. Previously, she ran the service development team at onefinestay, a UK-based hospitality startup, for four years, after a year at the wine sale site Lot18 in New York City. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB from Princeton University, where she majored in French and Italian. Between university and graduate school, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Italy studying artisan cheese. She also holds a WSET Diploma, having graduated with merit.

Toby worked at Adnams Brewery from 2005 until 2015, in several different roles including hotels, tied real estate and retail. More recently, he managed the flagship Southwold store before joining Lay & Wheeler in December 2015. He completed the WSET Diploma in 2014 and has since spent time in Champagne and Burgundy, both regions whose wines he enjoys. He also has a particular interest in the Douro Valley, Rioja and the Loire Valley. As the parent of two young daughters, this responsibility keeps him quite busy outside of our lovely walls.

When Will joined our team in July 2011, he was familiar with the Majestic family having spent eleven years within the group. He began his career in wine at the Brighton store before moving up as manager between the Guildford, East Grinstead, Reigate, Chichester stores. Will completed the WSET Level 3 in 2001 and has nearly completed the WSET Diploma. With deep knowledge of our entire wine portfolio, Will is a frequent guest of honour at client wine tastings, known as something of a jack of all trades. However, he particularly enjoys Italian wines, especially Tuscany. Outside the office, Will is an avid cyclist.

In 2004, Karen joined Lay & Wheeler to manage fine wine trading. She had been working as the General Manager of a small Welsh vineyard, with responsibility for everything from production to the commercial side, which included selling their wine to the House of Commons. Karen completed the WSET Level 3 in 2013. She specialises in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and when she’s not helping to sell wine on behalf of our customers, she’s likely enjoying a good bottle of Bordeaux with her family, or perhaps on a trip to her favorite wine region, the Côte de Beaune.

Joanne joined Lay & Wheeler in October 2016 to assist in the fine wine trading business. Joanne spent many years in credit control with experience in finance and administration, and was fortunate to spend a year in Australia where she enjoyed visiting vineyards. More recently, she worked at the Clacton Coastal Academy for ten years. Now, she assists the department and is learning more about fine wine. Outside the office, she enjoys cycling and walking her new puppy on the beach with her family.

Tarka came to Lay & Wheeler in the autumn of 2016, after four and a half years working at Pieroth Wines, a family wine business with a history in wine stretching back over three centuries. During university in Cirencester, Tarka took a course in wine in her final year, and fell in love with it. After graduating with honours, she completed the WSET level 2 and joined Pieroth. Today, Tarka is working to complete the WSET level 3 programme, while also studying for a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English Literature. Her favourite style of wine is Amarone, though has been fortunate to enjoy aged Bordeaux from her family’s cellar.

Issy joined Lay & Wheeler in the autumn of 2016 after experience in hospitality, having worked at the Orwell Hotel in Felixstowe and at the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club.  Her role at Lay & Wheeler spans all activities that ensure our customers and their wines are cared for, and that we go above and beyond to deliver the best possible service. Issy is learning more about fine wine, and has discovered a preference for New World reds like the wines of Penfolds. When not at work, she’s likely to be walking her labradoodle on the beach nearby, or enjoying a good meal with her friends. 

In January 2017, Ksenia became part of the Customer Care team. Ksenia brings with her experience in hospitality, working in and managing several restaurants. She also has several years’ experience as a personal banker at Lloyds TSB Bank. Ksenia has begun to learn more about fine wine since joining the team and enjoys our regular tasting. Outside the office, Ksenia is most likely spending time with her young daughter.

Rick began working at Lay & Wheeler over Christmas, when Lay & Wheeler had a shop in Colchester in 1995. He returned to work there during university holidays while at the University of East Anglia, and worked the harvest at Rauzan-Segla in Bordeaux, too. Upon graduation, Rick joined the team full time, initially responsible for managing tastings, before assuming responsibility for technical support. Today, Rick manages our website and the technology behind it. With a self-professed sweet tooth, Rick’s favorite wine is Tokaji Essenzia. A devoted father, Rick spends his time outside the office watching his two daughters play tennis.

After graduating from the University of Cambridge, Robbie worked in Majestic stores in East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells for nine months. He joined the team at Lay & Wheeler in 2014, initially responsible for marketing and merchandising activities, and was promoted to Buyer at the end of 2016. Robbie completed the WSET level three with distinction in 2014, and is enrolled in the Diploma programme. In his spare time, Robbie enjoys sport and is an avid reader, with a keen interest in American history. He also speaks conversational French and Russian.

Sarka joined the Majestic Group in 2007, after working in marketing in London. Originally from the Czech Republic, she studied business at university there before moving to England in 2002.

She’s been on the finance team the entire time, first looking after Majestic, then Les Celliers and now Lay & Wheeler since 2011, just after the Majestic acquisition. Sarka handles all of our accounts, and looks after our finances.

Outside the office, she enjoys rowing, snowboarding, cycling and looking after her young son Alex.