BOSS to welcome new Chairperson at AGM

Julie Hawley joined YPO in May 2021 as Finance Director from her previous role as Managing Director of Office Friendly. She previously worked for Kingfield Heath Wholesale and has over 30 years of experience in the business supplies industry. Julie was awarded Professional of the Year in 2018 at the BOSS Awards and European Professional of The Year in 2019 at the European Office Products Awards (EOPA). Julie leads the organisation’s Finance, Business Change, and HR functions.

Julie said, “I am delighted to be appointed as Chairperson for the BOSS Federation. The last few years have been particularly trying for our industry due to the pandemic and subsequent recovery periods, and as challenges continue to present themselves a vibrant community will be strong mitigation to counter the effects of any change.

I’ve always been hugely supportive of the Federation but since joining the Board I’ve witnessed first-hand how hard the team works on behalf of the industry. Thanks go to Simon Drakeford as Chairman for the last 4 years for his commitment and focus on the evolution of the Federation. My wish is to continue to guide and support our CEO Amy alongside the Board with this evolution to ensure our industry endeavours to thrive and grow.”

Both the BOSS Board and BOSS team extend their sincere thanks to Simon whose commitment to BOSS over the last four years has been outstanding.

Simon Drakeford, BOSS Chairman said, “I feel honoured to have chaired the BOSS Federation for the last 4 years through such turbulent times and feel fortunate to have been able to work with our hugely impressive CEO Amy, and a brilliant bunch of hard-working, pragmatic, engaging board members from across the industry. I am proud of how the Federation has developed over this period and am excited about some of the future initiatives I know are in the pipeline. We are very well set up to help our industry through its next chapter. I’m thrilled to pass the chair to Julie, who from her extensive experience in our industry and legions of no-nonsense competencies, will ensure BOSS becomes even more relevant, inclusive, and supportive of our members and the wider sector. I am particularly humbled to be succeeded by the first female Chairperson of BOSS in its 118-year existence, this feels particularly special.”

BOSS Members’ Day will take place in London on Thursday 12th October at the St Bride Foundation in London. The BOSS Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also take place on the day.

Amy Hutchinson, BOSS CEO added, “I’m thrilled to welcome Julie to her new position and am excited to work alongside her over the coming years to develop our industry’s Federation. Julie has supported BOSS in many guises already from her role on the BOSS Board to being a founding member of our Environmental Forum and consistently championing the BOSS Leaders of the Future Committee and their events.

“I’d like to thank Simon for his energy and devotion to the role of BOSS Chairman. It’s been an absolute delight to work with him and his guidance has undoubtedly furthered the Federation’s objectives to support our members.”