Michael Tully, Chief Executive Officer

Michael has worked in the food and drink industry for over 30 years and more specifically in the bakery ingredients sector since 2004, firstly as General Manager at BFP Wholesale and then as Chief Executive Officer at Bako Northern and Scotland. He was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer in October 2017. In his time at BAKO, he has led the restructure of the Group’s cost base and built an Executive Management Team which will deliver growth for many years to come.

Kirti Hirani, Group Chief Financial Officer

Kirti is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and started his career as an auditor before going on to various roles in finance. He joined the Group in May 2017 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in October 2017. Kirti was a key part of the restructure of the Group’s cost base and has driven improvements in controls, processes, reporting and digitisation. Kirti also acts as the Company Secretary for the Group and oversees the Group’s IT department.

David Yates, Chairperson

David Yates has owned and operated Luke Evans Bakery, a 217 year old wholesale bakery in Derbyshire, for 33 years. During this time, he has learned a lot about the fundamentals requirements of a successful bakery business.  David became a BAKO Shareholder soon after he joined the bakery, recognising the importance of reliable and affordable ingredients. Realising the importance of BAKO’s success to his own business, David was a regular attendee at AGM’s for many years, before joining the board in January 2018.  David successfully applied for the position of Chairperson in May 2021, based on his strategy of ensuring BAKO is here to support the Baking Industry, and the BAKO shareholders.  If re-appointed to the board, David will continue BAKO’s work to ensure his strategic ambitions are fulfilled.  

Duncan Hindley, Director

Duncan Hindley is a 4th generation baker from both sides of his family. He spent time in the Royal Navy before attending bakery college in Birmingham, after which he worked for Sainsbury's, Greenhalgh's and joined Hindley's in 1990.  Following a period of growth in manufacturing, wholesale and retail operations, Duncan led strategic changes to focus on farmers' markets, food festivals, bread making courses and a reduction in retail shops creating a sustainable bakery business.  Hindleys competed on Britain's Best Bakery TV programme in 2013 winning the regional final. Hindleys also celebrated 128 years in April 2021.  Duncan has been a member of BAKO since 1993 and is delighted to join the board of an organisation proud to support the baking industry.

Gordon Mcghee, Director

Gordon McGhee is the hands-on Managing Director of the McGhee Group which comprises of multiple bakery manufacturing and distribution sites across Central Scotland.  This £36m turnover 4th generation family business is a household name across Scotland and is relied upon for its daily deliveries of bread rolls and a range of other morning bakery goods to schools, hospitals, councils and businesses of every size.
Gordon has steered the organisation through a host of expansions and acquisitions over the past 30 years and his astute focus and attention to detail have ensured The McGhee Group remains one of the most profitable independent bakery businesses in the country.
MBA qualified, Gordon was delighted to join the BAKO board in June 2021 and hopes his 46 years of business expertise will be a valuable addition to the team.

Tom Moore, Director

Tom Moore is a 5th generation baker from Henllan Bakery in Denbigh, North Wales.  Tom has dedicated his life to the baking industry from studying bakery at college to being involved with the family wholesale bakery for over 25 years.  As the Production Director Tom is responsible for overseeing production at both sites, which have both expanded rapidly over the past couple of years including many new plant installations and building works to the factories. 

Tom has managed to secure many listings in most major supermarkets across Wales by consistently producing quality, fresh and consistent products. Tom is honoured to have joined the BAKO board in July 2023 having been a BAKO shareholder since 1995 and is looking forward to supporting the baking Industry and the BAKO shareholders in the future.

Martyn Taylor, Non-Executive Director

Martyn is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and spent his full time career in banking. Prior to his retirement he led a risk management team across the North of England, supporting businesses facing financial challenges. Prior to that he headed a UK national team of specialist relationship managers, who funded and supported customers with mergers, acquisition, buy-outs etc. He also graduated from senior management development programmes at Harvard Business School and the Wharton University of Pennsylvania.

Martyn is presently the Deputy Chair at an NHS Trust, where he also chair’s the Quality and Governance Committee.
Some of you may recall Martyn was a Non Executive Director at BAKO for the period 2015 to 2019 and he has now re-joined the Board and is the Chair of the Audit Committee.

Ian Dobbie, Non Executive-Director

Ian is a Chartered Chemist who has spent his entire career in the food business , mainly in the bakery and prepared chilled foods product sectors . His career started with RHM , and he then went onto work for the likes of Northern Foods and Allied Bakeries , before joining Délifrance , a top 10 global bakery business specialising in the supply of frozen bake-off products , as Managing Director of the UK business. 

Ian eventually became the first non-French CEO for the entire Délifrance Group , with responsibility for managing a 700 m € business , employing 3,500 staff across 15 industrial sites . He now runs his own consultancy business , focusing on transformational change , and he most recently led the successful sale of the Wrights Food Group to PAI Partners Private Equity / The Compleat Food Group. Ian is a passionate supporter of the bakery business and was delighted to join the BAKO board in January 2023.