It’s people that make a company. As we grow we’re always on the lookout for great people to join the team.
See which roles we’re recruiting for here.
It’s people that make a company. As we grow we’re always on the lookout for great people to join the team. See which roles we’re recruiting for here
Founder
Andrew grew up in coffee growing countries including Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Burundi.
Andrew is an engineer and industrial designer and developed the concept for IKAWA while studying Industrial Design at the Royal College of Art in London. He’s dedicated years of toil to making IKAWA a reality.
As the team has grown, his “Kaizen” approach to design and manufacturing has helped not only to build hundreds of coffee roasters, but to harness, build and refine the skills of the workshop team.
Managing Director
Ben joined as Managing Director in 2015 and has overseen a period of strong growth since then, seeing IKAWA move to our current workshop, and the team growing from 4.
In return, IKAWA has helped Ben to become more cultured in coffee and he now possesses a decent grinder, espresso machine and aeropress. And a Home Coffee Roaster.
He has previously worked in senior management in the travel industry and founded start-ups in architecture, sports travel and tech, and has a fantastic ability to get excited about the big picture and managing the delivery.
Head of Marketing
Alex joined IKAWA to manage a short project – IKAWA’s Kickstarter Campaign for the IKAWA At Home system – but quickly realised the project really starts when the campaign finishes. He has enjoyed the ride of delivering our Home Coffee Roaster, as well as marketing the Sample Roaster and drinking some fantastic coffees along the way.
Before joining IKAWA, Alex worked for UK coffee brand Cafédirect and founded Espresso Mushroom Company, which he runs in his ‘spare time’. He was a finalist for IGD Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014.
General Manager - IKAWA at Home
Bradley joined IKAWA in 2015 to head up our Sales and Business Development team and has the perfect niche combining his love of coffee with application of start-up business theory, particularly anything Seth Godin.
He is a qualified UKBC judge and in charge of keeping the team in good coffee. His choice of brewing equipment in the office reflects the growth we’ve achieved – moving from a 3-cup to 6-cup Chemex, through a Technovorm Moccamaster, and we now have two Wilfa Svart a Linea Mini and selection of V60 and Kalita filters. He’s doing a good job!
Head of Operations
Daniel joins IKAWA with an impressive background in Operations, including time in senior management with McLaren Racing as well as Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.
After growing up in Hamburg, he relocated to London in 1994 where he studied at Brunel University, and continues to live with his young family.
You might find him outside IKAWA on his cruiser board commuting to work or discovering the city’s pinball halls on the weekend!
Sales Manager
Account Manager
Account Manager
Born in Jordan and raised in Dubai – Rena discovered speciality coffee when she tried her first vibrant, bright and complex Ethiopian V60. After that Rena, a trained chemical engineer, left the oil and gas industry to pursue her love of coffee and join the Pro sales team. Outside of work (and coffee shop hunting!), she enjoys sports including athletics ang gymnastics. Want to follow Rena’s coffee journey? Follow her instagram – @RenaBrews
Account Manager
Jacob joined IKAWA in 2021 from within the Speciality Coffee industry, having headed up wholesale at Atkinson’s for 5 years. You may have already met Jacob at Coffee Festivals around the UK in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester as well as attending International Shows and competitions as part of his coffee education. Jacob is currently working out of sunny Lancaster with his 10 “absolutely daft” chickens.
Customer Service Manager
Industrial Design Engineer
Pro-Marketing
Coffee & Content
Product Manager
Geoff first encountered IKAWA before most of us, meeting Rombout at SCAA about five years ago, and became an IKAWA customer this year in his previous role as Director of Coffee for DETOUR, one of Canada's top speciality roasters. “Coffee is a bit of a rabbit hole” Geoff told us when discussing quality coffee. It’s one he’s dived in deep, which is great because Geoff is in charge of educating our customers on the finer points of coffee.
Beyond coffee, you’ll find Geoff playing squash, exploring his new home city London, searching out the best ramen, and appreciating our relatively milder climate!"
Project Manager
Logistics Executive
Born and raised in Ireland, Saoirse moved to London 3 years ago – managing coffee spots and heading up coffee at a number of well known venues across the City. Saorise’s background is in agricultural science, with a specific interest in forestry and coffee cultivation. Alongside her passion for electronic music and all that goes with it, Saorise enjoys all other art forms… Including latte art (obviously).
Finance Assistant
Ornella was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to London in early 2018. She studied and became an Accountant in Argentina and after moving to London, joined our Finance Team alongside Maria.
An avid traveller, Ornella is now soaking in the culture in Camden and slowly but surely coming around to our office coffee. She still favours her Grandmothers, who mixes and grinds two special types together, her secret recipe!
Supply Chain Manager
Production Manager
Georgen initially joined IKAWA in 2016 when he was studying engineering. Now Production Manager, and when not helping out in R&D, George is a keen chef, making fresh meals and tasty baked at home. He even takes the time to forage and grow his own food! Now that's commitment.
Also, fun fact, George was part of the team that created the bike that holds the current human powered British land speed record! ZoooomBuyer
Production Team Leader
Production Technician
Timo brings an impressive technical background with him to IKAWA. He studied Mechanical Engineering at London South Bank University and worked as a Production Technician making submarines!
Timo was born and raised in Jinja, Uganda (“the most beautiful part of Africa”) and brought with him a love for sports. Since he moved to the UK, he’s been part of the National Baseball League playing for the London Pirates!
Production Technician
After spending almost a decade in mechanical engineering producing voltage switchgear, Josh headed to the Canadian ski slopes before arriving with IKAWA in the coffee industry! He told us that being able to ‘send-it’ on the slopes and also building his own campervan was a key turning point to returning to the UK to continue his career as an industrial engineer. Outside IKAWA HQ, find him on the squash court, having a pop at drawing or attending gigs.
Production Technician
Now Managing Director of Olam Speciality Coffee Europe Ltd, and formerly of Schluter Coffee a coffee trading company specialising in East African speciality coffee. Phil was a founding member of Speciality Coffee Association of Europe and while based in Liverpool, works all over the world.
Phil has been involved with IKAWA from our early days and his knowledge of the coffee sector – and using IKAWA roasters across the business – has been invaluable.
Chris brings a wealth of experience from the manufacturing sector to his role as Finance Director on the IKAWA board.
During Chris’ career, he’s been Technical Manager, General Manager and Finance Director of RPC Group PLC which is now a global design and engineering company with centres of excellence worldwide and a turnover in excess of £2bn following floatation which he oversaw in 1993.
Managing Director
Founder, CTO and Chairman
As a co-founder of IKAWA, Rombout joined forces with Andrew in the early days at the Royal College of Art, after previously studying at Stanford University and Imperial College London.
He now works independently as an award winning designer, engineer and researcher, and loves to develop new experiences that unleash unused human potential. Rombout has worked with Siemens, Merck and Proctor & Gamble and directed one of Philips’ open labs in Eindhoven where he’s based.
Andrew’s career has been based at Deloitte where he’s worked and lived in London, Birmingham, Melbourne and Paris. His roles include Partner, Vice Chairman, Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions; Transaction Services and European and UK Head of Mergers and Acquisitions.
Since his retirement, he and former colleagues have invested in a number of young developing businesses – and IKAWA is fortunate to benefit from his wisdom.