Meet the Team
Michael Welch, Managing Director
Founder and Managing Director of Blackcircles.com, Michael Welch has over 12 years experience within the tyre industry, gaining invaluable experience through a variety of roles, from tyre fitter to E-commerce Director for the Kwik-Fit Group.
Spurred on by his dedication to provide excellent customer service, Blackcircles.com has grown in stature over the years.
This has lead to Michael being voted both Shell and Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year and most recently saw him win the ‘BT Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2008.
Kenny Baillie, Finance Director
Kenny is a Chartered Accountant whose previous roles include, audit manager for Tenon Scotland and senior management accountant with Scottish Widows.
Since joining Blackcircles.com in 2007 he has implemented many improvements that have helped us to grow without compromising our competitive prices.
Kenny oversees the operational performance of Blackcirces.com - constantly looking for areas where improvements can be made.
James Eccleshall, Head of Operations & Trading
James worked for the UK’s largest golf wholesaler for 6 years and gained valuable experience in a number of different roles, including Head of purchasing and logistics.
In 2007 he left the wholesaler and spent 18 months working as a consultant for a profit improvement company, before joining the Blackcircles.com team in March 2008.
At present James heads the sales, buying and customer relation teams.
Richard Rankin, Head of Web
Richard has an impressive background in online marketing, web development and search engine optimisation.
Richard joined Blackcircles.com as marketing manager in 2007 and currently manages our online marketing and development teams.
His key areas of responsibility are online marketing strategy and the creation, development and roll-out of new technologies for all of Blackcircles.com’s web portfolio.
Alan Littlewood, Head of Network
Alan is another member of the Blackcircles.com team with an impressive background within the tyre industry.
He has previously held roles with Stapleton’s Tyre services as Business Development Manager and as the National Tyre Manager for the Pendragon group.
Alan joined Blackcircles.com in 2009 and spends most of his time on the road, ensuring that our network of garages are meeting the high standards that, we here at Blackcircles.com, have built our reputation on.
Margaret Russell, International Operations Supervisor
Margaret graduated from the University of Leicester in 2007 with an upper second in Law, French Law and French and obtained the LPC from Nottingham Law School in 2008.
Since joining Blackcircles.com in 2008, Margaret has overseen our international customer service, logistics and marketing campaigns.
She also manages the ongoing expansion of our European retail websites sites in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Finland.
Marie Bennett, Office Manager
Marie worked within the Law Sector as a legal secretary and personal assistant. She specialised, to begin with, in Renewable Energies and then Private Client & Financial Services.
Marie joined the Blackcircles.com team in 2009 as office manager.