Meet the Team

I qualified from Bristol Vet School in 1990 and worked in practice before moving into the pharmaceutical industry. I joined XLVets in 2006.

As Chief Executive, I am responsible for supporting the Board of Directors to collectively set the strategy and the Operations team to deliver it all for our members. Through cooperative competition we empower and enable communities of practise within the XLVet community to thrive and achieve clinical excellence in what we do, grow our practice businesses through meeting our clients needs, increase our business effectiveness and practice communications, and very importantly, delivering high-quality training for all our practice teams.

Whenever I can, I enjoy mountain walking, turning wood, and getting out on my bike.

I joined Friars Moor in 2011 having previously worked at Hook Norton Vets. 

I completed my Diploma in Bovine Reproduction in 2014 and have since become less and less diverse in my talents, focusing on cattle work and management of both the small animal and farm teams! 

Outside of work I help run our dairy farm and attempt to parent two children, sometimes successfully!

Nich comes from a farming background in Norfolk. After qualifying in 1992 he worked in a large mixed practice in Kent where he developed his interest in herd and flock health and production. In 1995 he moved to North Devon where he continued to develop his interests in mastitis, lameness, nutrition and in particular cattle reproduction. In 2004 he obtained the Diploma in Bovine Reproduction, and in 2015 he was awarded the Advanced Practitioner status in Bovine Reproduction.

He is a Director of Torch Farm & Equine LTD. He is optimistic that farming has a future. Nich is married with two children. 

Rachel qualified from Edinburgh in 1993 and worked in mixed practice before starting a family and focussing on farm animals. She gained her Certificate in Cattle Health and Production in 1998 and became an Advanced Practitioner in Cattle Health and Production in 2015. Her clinical interests have included bovine reproduction, mastitis, infectious disease, sustainability and antimicrobial use. She now runs the research arm of the practice, encompassing clinical research studies, close to market innovations and multiple collaborative projects. Some of her current passions are youngstock health, bovine TB and handling down cows. She sits on several industry committees relating to the responsible use of medicines.

As a software developer for XLVets, I specialise in building and maintaining internal systems that are designed to help XLVets operate smoothly and efficiently.

Outside of work, I live in Cumbria and have a passion for outdoor activities and can often be found running, biking, or swimming in the beautiful landscapes that surround us.

I graduated as a vet in 2012 and joined XLVets in 2018 to support members with all things mentoring.  This ranges from running training courses to supporting members to integrate mentoring into their unique practice cultures. 

I spend a lot of time with graduate vets and have enjoyed watching the benefits of mentoring extend to all staff members, clinical and non-clinical alike. 

I also work as a small animal clinician and my real full-time job is raising two diva daughters with my husband at our home in Oxfordshire.  For fun we love to travel, made all the more adventurous when seen through the eyes of toddlers!

I joined the team in January 2020 as a Marketing and Communications Executive and I've since transitioned to the role of Learning and Development Lead. In this role, I work with my colleagues and our members to identify training needs and develop new VetSkills courses. I’m passionate about supporting new graduates in practice and I enjoy being part of the team delivering our Graduate Development Programmes.

I’m based in our North Shields office and live locally with my cat Bao.

I’ve been with XLVets since May 2019, based in our Newcastle office. After moving here in 2002 for my Marketing degree at Newcastle University, I spent 11 years with the PDSA, supporting veterinary practices across the UK.

I’m passionate about helping independent practices thrive and love discussing pet health plans, marketing, customer journeys, and tech-driven client communications.

Outside of work, I’m usually chatting about cats, beer, and films. 

Ian joined the XLVets Operations team in 2024, as Member Marketing and Communications Executive.

I’ve been with XLVets since 2019 based at the Broomhall warehouse in Cheshire.

I’ve been in Ops Management for most of my career running teams, territories and warehouses across the Charity, Food, Environmental Services, Trade, Construction, and Retail sectors.

Outside of work I’m a keen DIYer, love my garden, read the odd book, and spend most of my time enjoying being at the beck and call of my two young daughters.

Having spent the bulk of my career so far working in Logistics roles, primarily for the Royal Navy Submarine Service, it's a delight to be able to transfer my skills over to the Veterinary industry and support the procurement function of the business, while studying for a Supply Chain Management degree.

In my spare time, I can usually be found on the terraces supporting Newcastle United, exploring the Northumbrian countryside, or if I am allowed, adopting the prone position on the couch.

Born and bred in Nantwich, I started working at Broomhall mid-2024.

A married man with a strong sense of family, I like spending time supporting Liverpool FC and love looking after my grandkids.

I joined Broomhall in January 2016. Over the years I have seen how the business has grown. The warehouse is a tad bigger now!

I have been in Customer Service most of my career in Retail and the Service Industry.

In my spare time, you will find me mostly driving up and down the M6 to visit family & friends.

Rachel qualified as a vet from the University of Bristol in 2000. She joined XLVets UK Ltd in August 2024 as the Clinical Quality Improvement Lead. She has extensive experience in small animal general practice having worked as a veterinary surgeon, and in leadership roles, in the charity, corporate, and independent practice sectors. 

Alongside seeing patients, Rachel enjoys spending her time coaching and mentoring members of the practice team and working with the owners to deliver sustainable business development. She gained a Diploma in Leadership and Management in 2021. 

Rachel has a passion for quality improvement and a strong interest in human factors, and brings this to her role in XLVets where she inspires and engages member practices in the positive benefits of quality improvement.

I joined the Broomhall office team in early 2022 leaving the chaos of retail management behind me.

Outside of work, I spend my time creating weird and wonderful props for my local pantomime and running around after a houseful of animals.

Based in the North East, I joined the XLVets team in May 2019. I look after the marketing function of XLVets and have the pleasure of considering the XLVets brand, our place in the market, and supporting the business to deliver services for our members. XLVets aims to be a champion of independent veterinary practice and its goals align very strongly with my own.

With a background in Agriculture, Food and Business Enterprise, I am passionate about Marketing and Communications, independent and localised business, and supporting strong business growth. 

If you have the opportunity to attend an XLVets event, I'd highly recommend it. This is an inspiring community that delivers energy to a topic and a room!

Personally, my husband and I farm free-range laying hens and sheep in Northumberland and we have two children.