Family independent Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire has welcomed one, and said goodbye to another important member of their team – both of whom have been connected with the business for many decades.

Having left his Area Sales Manager role at LeisureGrow after 20 outstanding years, Robert Kitt has joined Highfield’s sales team.  The move comes soon after Account Manager Stella Gray retired from Highfield after 45 years of dedicated service, although the moves are entirely unrelated.

Saturday job 30 years ago

Robert Kitt’s association with Highfield reaches back 30 years, when he had a Saturday job at the family independent. That experience blossomed into a long-standing relationship with the founding Greenway family, and an illustrious career elsewhere in the trade.  Highfield’s Managing Director and Co-founder Tim Greenway commented;  “We are thrilled to be welcoming Robert back into the business after three decades. With his positivity, and his broad industry knowledge and network, we have no doubt he’ll prove a real asset to our experienced in-house team”. 

Part of Highfield’s history

Meanwhile, after 45 years working within the lead team at Highfield, Account Manager Stella Gray has retired. Having studied horticulture at Pershore, Stella joined in 1980 when the business sold mail order plants only, and had just 35 staff. It now boasts 115. Highfield Garden World garden centre was launched in 1992, and as the business grew exponentially, so did Stella’s role and influence. Highfield Director and Co-founder Joan Greenway commented; “Stella was our right-hand woman for 45 fantastic years! As a family developing and running a rapidly expanding business, we really benefitted from her professionalism and her calming influence.  Always honest, always discreet, and with an incredible memory and head for figures, she has been a valuable sounding board, and a big part of Highfield’s success. We miss her greatly.”