PURPLE STORY 

Awesome People 

Our team of Purplistas, drawn from senior roles across hospitality, retail, and beyond, are all hand-picked and excel at bringing our programmes to life with unparalleled expertise and passion. 

Karen Turton 

CEO and Founder  
 
KT is fearless and brilliant with over 30 years in hospitality. She’s a sci-fi fan and secretly wishes to be Seven of Nine. A true leader, she founded Purple Story to transform businesses and people alike. 
 
Lynda Merryweather 
Lynda, famous for always having a mug of Yorkshire tea in hand, has 20+ years operational experience in the leisure travel industry before joining Purple Story. Her passion lies in creating bespoke solutions for our clients and then ensuring we exceed expectations every time. Lynda loves to forge strong relationships and partnerships that maximise ROI for stakeholders. 
Brian Bagnall 
Brian brings a wealth of leadership experience from retail and hospitality, with a passion for developing talent. He enjoys great beer, good wine, and an Indian curry, and lives in Bramhall with his wife and two sons. 
Jody Bennett 
With 25+ years in HR and operations, Jody is all about putting people first. A master in career development, she enjoys hiking in the Welsh countryside and is studying to be an NLP Practitioner. 
Amy Depuis 
Amy keeps Team Purple on track with her expertise in operational excellence and client relations. Outside work, she’s embarrassing her kids with loud Tina Turner songs in the car. She’s the solid foundation holding Purple Story up! 
Angharad Gray 
Angharad joined Purple HQ in 2023 and quietly provides invaluable support to the team, clients, and suppliers. An animal lover and dog groomer, she’s passionate about books and rescuing ex-battery hens. A real-life Dr Doolittle! 
Andy Goram 
With a background in senior marketing roles, Andy brings a love for people development and a wicked sense of humour to Team Purple. He’s all about aligning brand, employees, and customers. 
Craig Nicholls 
Craig brings 35+ years of leadership experience in a variety of hospitality roles from chef to operations director. He has a hands-on approach to delivering exceptional experiences. A passionate sports fan, he loves golf and football, embracing the competitive spirit both on and off the field. 
Craig  
Wells 
With 20 years in hospitality, Craig is all about operational excellence and people-first leadership. A theatre lover and escape room enthusiast, he’s always ready to strategise and connect with people. 
Joe Stileman 
After enjoying a career in hospitality Joe moved on to find a new purpose; helping teams build future-fit cultures. He’s long held the ‘outlandish’ belief that work should be fun. Joe loves a gig, board games, and, of course, time with his family. 
Matt Howcroft 
Matt's got bags of operational know-how and a passion for people. A qualified coach and rugby fan, he loves exploring the Yorkshire countryside with his partner and two daughters. 
Richard Tudor-Thomas 
A calming presence with Royal Navy, Waitrose, and National Trust experience, RTT shares his love for operational excellence through storytelling. Rugby and family are his passions. 
Verity Milns 
Verity lives for those lightbulb moments! A rugby fan and keen swimmer, she loves helping people fly and sharing her coaching skills. She’s passionate about bringing out the best in others. 
Warrick Hegarty 
A former prison service leader, Warrick’s all about making long-term, impactful changes. His area of specialism lies in preventing stress and burnout. He’s a rock music lover and a big fan of deep life debates. Juggling five books? That’s just his style! 
"Every day we are seeing visible signs that behaviours are changing." 
 
 
Phil Cavanagh, Head of Learning and Development 
Betfred 
"Don’t hesitate! Purple Story delivers impactful, transformative programs tailored to your unique challenges, ensuring real, lasting results." 
 
 
Mike Smith, UK Sales Director 
Global Brands 
"Their programme delivery has captured the hearts and minds of our partners, thanks to both the compelling content and the passion and energy of their facilitators." 
James Ince, Strategic Project Lead 
Starbucks