GENERAL MANAGER

Timi Smith-Watson

You can contact Timi directly by emailing timi.smith-watson@samphirecustoms.co.uk

Timi, originally from Transilvania in Romania, moved to the UK in 2013 looking for growth both personally and professionally. Already speaking fluent English, Hungarian and Romanian, she quickly found direction, landing in the bustling transport industry and laying down her roots in Dover.

Starting at a local transport company as an Administrator, Timi soon realised she was able to offer more and following months of home studying – along with managing her busy life as a mum – passed her Transport Manager’s CPC and became the company’s offical Transport Manager sitting on their Operator’s Licence.

Timi gained great experience there but, always eager to progress, jumped at the opportunity to join Samphire in 2020, helping the business to navigate unprecendented growth and change brought by Brexit, and can now be considered an integral part of the overall operation.

Timi is a loving mother to her daughter and two stepsons, along with a devoted partner to her soon-to-be husband, Gary. She is also an avid animal lover caring for the family’s gorgeous golden retriever, beautiful birman cat, and a handful of minilop rabbits. She even hopes to breed the rabbits in her spare time. (What spare time?!)

Timi believes there is nothing in life that can’t be achieved if you work hard enough, and everything can be fixed if you’re prepared to put in the effort.

Being Samphire Customs’s first female team member, she has brought a fresh new atmosphere to the office and was key to the new direction of the company.

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Debbie Brown

You can contact Debbie directly by emailing debbie.brown@samphirecustoms.co.uk

ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT MANAGER

Sarah Shemmans

You can contact Sarah directly by emailing sarah.shemmans@samphirecustoms.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Gary Smith-Watson

You can contact Gary directly by calling +44 1304 273764 Mob 07958140067 or by emailing gary.smith-watson@samphirecustoms.co.uk

Gary is responsible for the drive, growth, and leadership of Samphire Customs, as well as the day to day running of the business.

Being amongst the newer members of the team joining in December 2019, Gary now admits it feels like he has always been part of it. Before that, he spent almost 20 years working for an express transport operator, predominantly within the live events, music tours, and exhibition industries.

His career started back in 2001 as a Warehouse Supervisor and grew from there, passing the OCR Certificates of Professional Competence in National and International Road Haulage, and becoming the Transport and Operations Manager. Then followed a short break as a Transport Manager for a local haulage firm but ultimately felt that he belonged elsewhere. Returning to his strength as Business Development Manager in express transport, he continued to grow until he was approached and offered the amazing opportunity to join Samphire, leading a team of professional, knowledgeable and hardworking people.

Gary has achieved many things but says his biggest achievement was winning the heart of his wonderful wife-to-be Timi, who gave him strength when it was needed most, and without whom he wouldn’t be who and where he is today.

In his spare time, he enjoys long walks across local fields and woodland with his sidekick Sandor, the family’s beautiful young – but large and excitable – Golden Retriever, whilst also enjoying as much time as possible with his family and 3 amazing children.

CUSTOMS & OPERATIONS MANAGER

George Holmes

You can contact George directly by emailing george.holmes@samphirecustoms.co.uk

George joined Samphire in March 2019, working in all areas of export & import customs clearance but also devling into road freight, deep-sea and forwarding.

In September 2021 and having proved himself across all departments, including the training of new recruits in the lead up to Brexit, along with his general leadership qualities and an ability to remain calm under pressure, George was promoted to Export Customs Supervisor and very much represents the future of the company.

Before joining Samphire, he was a bicycle mechanic for the GB Triathlon Team on the Ironman circuit.

In his spare time, George enjoys riding and working on his mountain bike and motorbike but also travelling/exploring new places, and trying their local cuisine.

CUSTOMS & COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Chris Grimes

You can contact Chris directly by emailing chris.grimes@samphirecustoms.co.uk

Chris has overall responsibility for customs clearance compliance and associated services at Samphire, being a fountain of knowledge from his many years’ experience.

Chris has been with Samphire since before its incorporation in 2001, working alongside its previous owners going back to 1996. Before this, he spent 10 years with one of the largest global freight forwarding companies in the UK, with the final 2 years in this period served as the branch manager based in Dover.

During his time at Samphire, Chris has undertaken all roles within the business with great professionalism which has enabled the growth and depth of services offered today.

Chris boasts of his happiness in being with his partner for the last 35 years and of being a very proud father of 3 children, devoting as much time as possible to them whilst remaining dedicated and hardworking throughout. With his days of partying hard now gone, Chris now enjoys the company of his dogs, and patrolling the wonderful countryside surrounding Dover.

SENIOR CUSTOMS SUPERVISOR

Ioana Farkas

You can contact Ioana directly by emailing ioana.farkas@samphirecustoms.co.uk

Before joining Samphire, and since 2007, Ioana worked in accountancy, achieving her bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 2009.

In the search of a better life for herself and her family, she relocated to the UK in March 2020 and joined Samphire in January 2021, now providing clients with customs clearance on road imports.

Ioana married in 2017 and has one ‘feisty’ toddler named Erik who “makes life so much more interesting!”. They also have their dog from Romania – a beagle named Sansa – who is absolutely considered a member of the family, along with being Erik’s best friend.

In her very limited spare time, Ioana enjoys long walks in nature and discovering the wider Kent area, though hopes to take her travelling further afield when time allows.

CUSTOMS SUPERVISOR

Liz Carraher

You can contact Elizabeth directly by emailing elizabeth.carraher@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS SUPERVISOR

Ruby Featherbe-Nejad

You can contact Ruby directly by emailing ruby.featherbe-nejad@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS SHIFT SUPERVISOR

Nick Solway

You can contact Nick directly by emailing nick.solway@samphirecustoms.co.uk

SENIOR CUSTOMS OPERATOR

Toby Freeman

You can contact Toby directly by emailing toby.freeman@samphirecustoms.co.uk

SENIOR CUSTOMS/FORWARDING OPERATOR

Bradley Bowman

You can contact Bradley directly by emailing bradley.bowman@samphirecustoms.co.uk

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Liam Welsh

You can contact Liam directly by emailing liam.welsh@samphirecustoms.co.uk

SENIOR SHIFT OPERATOR

Brandon Bartley

You can contact Brandon directly by emailing brandon.bartley@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE SPECIALIST

Adam Patterson

You can contact Adam directly by emailing adam.patterson@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Joshua Smith-Watson

You can contact Josh directly by emailing josh.smith-watson@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Isabelle Webster

You can contact Isabelle directly by emailing Isabelle.Webster@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Callie Donovan

You can contact Callie directly by emailing callie.donovan@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS SHIFT OPERATOR

Ellen Moore

You can contact Ellen directly by emailing ellen.moore@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS SHIFT OPERATOR

Tom Lynch

You can contact Tom directly by emailing Thomas.Lynch@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Tyrell Mitford

You can contact Tyrell directly by emailing tyrell.mitford@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Harry Eversfield

You can contact Harry directly by emailing harry.eversfield@samphirecustoms.co.uk

SENIOR CUSTOMS OPERATOR

Olwen Westbrook

You can contact Olwen directly by emailing olwen.westbrook@samphirecustoms.co.uk

SENIOR CUSTOMS OPERATOR

Joe Roberts

You can contact Joe directly by emailing joe.roberts@samphirecustoms.co.uk

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OPERATOR

Megan Roberts

You can contact Megan directly by emailing megan.roberts@samphirecustoms.co.uk

TEAM MASCOT & BISCUIT EATER

Sandor (Clegane) Smith-Watson

You can contact Sandor directly to share your love at sandor@samphirecustoms.co.uk

He lives purely for cuddles & biscuits, and enjoys nothing more than being 100% of the attention, all of the time!

He is usually found either in the kitchen, on his bed or chin on your knee begging for food with the biggest smile you’ll see 🙂