JIMMY RUSSO (CO-OWNER)

Co-owner of both VGS and VGN with over 35 years’ experience in the salad growing industry.

VINCE RUSSO (CO-OWNER)

Co-owner of both VGS and VGN with over 35 years’ experience in the salad growing industry.

CLIVE LEWIS (SALES DIRECTOR)

At VGS, second in command to Jimmy and Vince is Clive Lewis. He has loyally served the company for 26 years joining the organisation as a young schoolboy at the age of 16 (in 1989). Clive’s company knowledge of the organisation’s activities is second to none. His loyalty and knowledge have driven sales to today’s level and his experience comes from working in all departments starting as a Saturday boy on the cucumber line then becoming a line leader to moving on to quality control then running the pack house. Clive is extremely well travelled through the company’s needs visiting such countries as Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Belgium, USA, Saudi Arabia and Israel in the quest to obtain the finest produce that can be sold on to our clients. He is also instrumental in New Product Development and works very closely with a number of seed houses around the world. Both Clive and Nof are fully responsible for sales and purchases. He is a highly respected individual whose commitment is regarded in high esteem by the Russo family.

NOF NICASTRO (NURSERY OPERATIONS MANAGER)

With over 15 years’ experience, Nof supports the sales and procurement operations alongside his colleague Clive. In 2019, Nof has inherited the role of nursery operations manager overseeing day to day life at VGN.

GUY NICASTRO (SALES AND PACKAGING MANAGER)

Guy started working with the team in 2013. Guy is responsible for working alongside Clive in sales and ensuring all of our packaging meets our customer needs and legal obligations.

GLEN WORSDELL (FINANCE DIRECTOR)

As a key player in the financial management of the company for over 17 years, Glen’s role is to manage and prepare all aspects of finance and accounts for both VGS and VGN. Faced with extremely tight margins, and a volatile Euro market, it is critical that all financial activity is tightly monitored, reviewed and controlled by Glen and his assistant Francesca at all times.

FRANCESCA RUSSO (ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT & HEAD OF HR)

Daughter of Jimmy, Francesca joined VGS in August 2017 as an apprentice within the accounts team. Francesca has progressed within the company and now is also responsible for the marketing and social media for both VGS and VGN. As well as Marketing, Francesca also works alongside Glen and Hollie within the accounts team. As of November 2020, Francesca has also taken on the role of Head of HR for both VGS and VGN overseeing 180 members of staff. 

ANTHONY SILVER (IT MANAGER) 

Anthony joined the VGS/VGN team in July 2020 bringing with him years of experience within the IT industry. Day to day, Anthony is responsible for all things IT across both VGS and VGN sites, ensuring all things IT related are run and managed flawlessly. Anthony is a hands-on & focused IT Professional & Systems Administrator bringing more than twenty years of diversified network experience to the business. He excels at identifying and problem-solving technical issues within the business. He has extensive knowledge in the areas of Building, Designing, and Maintaining Personal Computer Systems and Network infrastructure, including supporting all IT hardware, Client & Server applications, configuration, support, and maintenance. Anthony is adept at building strong relationships with staff, customers, vendors, and third-party contractors.

JOE DILETO (PURCHASING AND PALLET COORDINATOR)

Joe has the full responsibility of controlling the packing and of all produce at VGS. His role is to make sure that only the best product is packed for the end user to enjoy. Joe joined the organisation in 2006 and has steadily built a good strong team and despite at time a shortage of space he has always completed the order that have been given by the custom. The day to day is that he has the responsibility of overseeing 70 staff members from the UK, Italy, Romania, Lithuania and Poland. He has been involved in the fresh produce industry since leaving school at the age of 16.

JOE GENUARDI (PACKHOUSE MANAGER)

Joe has a long history of working with Jimmy and Vince. Initially working at Jim and Vince’s father’s (Angelo) nursery in Upper Roydon. He was then invited to follow the Russo brothers to the new project at VGS in 1985. Joe has great skill and fully understands the mechanics of running such an organisation along with great people skills has an extensive knowledge of the workings of every single machine from the cucumber wrappers to the pepper grader, a much-appreciated member of the team. Joe now works alongside Valentin and Giuseppe as Packhouse Manager at our VGN packing site.

VALENTIN TOMA (ASSISTANT PACKHOUSE MANAGER)

After joining VGS in 2017 as a warehouse operative, Valentin was promoted to the role of Assistant Packhouse Manager in 2020, Valentin oversees all aspects of packing operations at our VGN packing site alongside Packhouse manager Joe Genuardi. 

GIUSEPPE FAILLA (ASSISTANT PACKHOUSE MANAGER)

Giuseppe began his career within VGS in early 2015 after relocating from Sicily to London. Giuseppe started at Valley Grown Salads as a Packer within our warehouse and then went onto progress as Forklift Driver. As of Summer 2022, Giuseppe has now taken on the role as Assistant Packhouse Manager at Valley Grown Nurseries. Giuseppe’s day to day roles include assisting Joe Genuardi and Valentin Toma to successfully run and manage the Packhouse at our VGN site ensuring orders are completed and managing staff. 

MARIO INSALACO (QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER)

Mario joined VGS in 2001 working as a Quality Auditor and is now responsible for all matters relating to technical legality, food safety and quality assurance. His role includes the integrity of the grower base, ensuring that all customer requirements are met as well as continued achievement of BRC certification for the pack house. Mario leads a team of 5 individuals who check quality against raw material and customer specifications and reports any issues to the growers, suppliers and retailers. Mario gained experience in the growing and cultivating of cucumber crops from an early age, working on his father’s and late grandfather’s nurseries at weekends and summer holidays.

JOE MASUCCI (TRANSPORT MANAGER)

Joe Masucci joined VGS in 1997 as a lorry driver. As of  May 2017, transport manager Joe,  is responsible for looking after our fleet of lorries and ensures that all of our customers receive their deliveries on time. 

KEITH HOWARD (MAINTENENCE MANAGER)

Keith joined the VGS team in October 2016 as Maintenance Manager. Keith’s day to day roles include maintaining machinery and other site maintenance as well as ensuring all machinery is health and safety compliant and being apart of the HACCP Team.