About us

The Management team at Burford is drawn from a broad range of backgrounds, and this creative diversity of experience is reflected in the unique atmosphere of our shops and product ranges. A very famous political figure and customer of the Company once said 'Expect the Unexpected at Burford', a compliment which perhaps could equally be bestowed on the modernday politician!

Nigel Johnson - Chairman

The Company founder who lists his interests as Fine Art, Wine and Classic Motorcycles. A graduate in Art History, Nigel previously lived and worked in Australia and has been a franchise operator for Harley Davidson before moving to the Cotswolds. He lives locally with his wife and three children and dedicates his free time to sourcing original art from auctions for the Gallery at Burford and charity work for Aspire in Oxford.

Paul Gingell – Managing Director

Before joining Burford, Paul lived and worked in France prior to developing his retail career with Harrods and then as a buyer for a national department store group. A graduate in Modern Languages and with a Masters in Business Studies, Paul has a particular passion for contemporary design, the arts and good food (he is always out foraging at farmer's markets for new products for our Food Hall) and is the main driver of the 'Meet The Locals' initiative at Burford, introducing thousands of locally sourced lines to the range. He lives locally with his wife and young family.

Louise Johnson - Director

Louise has been instrumental in the development of the Burford Home ranges from early on in the company's development. She likes to source products on her family trips to France and aims to find individual and unusual items that are not mass produced, ‘something different’. In the future she has plans to develop a craft designer’s gallery dedicated to promoting British designers and talent. Her interests are the arts, literature, textiles, fashion and the garden. She originally trained as a nurse in Oxford and has since graduated in English literature, renovated several old properties in Franceand has three children.

Glen Sheldrake– Buyer

Glen is our Plants and Gardening buyer and also covers landscaping, pots and all the earthy things we sell like compost and chicken houses. Prior to joining Burford, Glen worked as a Regional Manager for a group of garden centres and has also run his own nursery. In his spare time he enjoys travelling, the theatre and the arts and brushing up on his pub quiz skills. 

Marie James - Buyer

Marie assists Glen  our Food shop. She joined Burford having previously worked in the corporate travel business and also as a successful private gardener and garden designer in the Cotswolds. Marie is heavily involved in the development of the ecological ranges at Burford and has recently sourced over 900 environmentally friendly products for the garden. She lists her interests as fine wines, travel,music and walking.

Meike Cassens- Buyer

Meike (pronounced 'Mike-ah') oversees the buying for Interiors,'Little Burford', Clothing, Books and Christmas. Meike has considerable buying experience developed during her earlier retail career in her native Germany, as a fashion buyer with Harrods and with the Eco Clothing supplier 'Greensleeves'.  In her spare time Meike is very active in her village community life, enjoys cooking for (and entertaining) her young family and is busy with the ongoing renovation of her Cotswolds home.

Elaine Day – Burford Oxfordshire, Store Manager

Elaine has more than 15 years Store Management experience gained at Selfridges and other Department Stores prior to joining Burford. Having been formally trained in Visual Merchandising, Elaine's interest in fashion and colours is instrumental in forming the Burford ' look' in our stores. She lists her key interests as art (she is an adept painter), cinema and 'anything French but particularly handbags'. She lives in Central Oxford.

Jason Brown - Website Sales

Jason is the friendly face behind Burford Online and if you have any queries he is the person who is most likely to help you on the telephone or by email.  Jason has many years experience working on the shop floor at our Oxfordshire site in both the Gardening and Home Interiors sections. If he is unable to answer your query straight away he will always telephone you back or email you with the answer. (No matter how technical). Jason has a very passionate interest in film and cinema in his spare time; he is a very adept creative illustrator and enjoys all aspects of contemporary culture. He lives just outside Oxford.