Jonathan Leach

Owner/Director

Jonathan started working in the motor trade when he was 12 years old as a Saturday and Holiday boy and learnt to drive in a 911 aged 13. He spent his early years at a specialist dealer where his love for Porsche began. In 1987, he branched out and started Cridfords originally in the Weybridge area then moving to Ripley then now in Ewhurst gathering important key members of staff with expert skills to further the business for service as well as sales.

He spent his youth driving, racing (and crashing) cars motorcycles and boats, but now sticks to pedal power can be found covered in mud and sweat riding his mountain bike in the Surrey Hills (and still crashing!) Favourite car – ’87 911 Super Sport

Michael Watkins

General Manager

Michael moved from Yorkshire to the south in 2003 to study Music Production at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. He started with Cridfords in 2005 as the car valeter and after watching the sales team he quickly began helping out on busy Saturdays and decided this was what he wanted to do going forward.

For the next few years he worked as a sales executive until leaving albeit briefly to be Business Manager at a volume dealership. Shortly after this he came back to Cridfords as Sales Manager and eventually progressed to General Manager in 2019. Michael has a keen interest in music and used to be lead singer and guitarist in a band. He is a keen mountain biker, dabbles in the gym but is at his happiest hiking over a mountain… or to the nearest pub at least. Favourite car – 981 Boxster S Manual

Sandra Gillett

Office Manager

Sandra gives a warm welcome to everyone who walks through the showroom doors, she keeps in contact with everyone who buys a car from us ensuring they have everything they need to put them at ease during the purchasing process. Sandra comes from a background of tour operations following her childhood dream of working in the travel industry. Following this Sandra worked at Canon in the MFD division for 15 years.

Sandra’s favourite pastime is watching her beloved Crystal Palace or ferrying her son around to play for his team. Sandra’s favourite car is a Toyota Landcruiser!

Rhys Still

Workshop Manager

Rhys came to us from BMW where he worked as a senior service advisor, he has been in the motor trade for over 20 years covering most roles on the service side of the industry. He is responsible for keeping our technicians on their toes and ensuring they are not taking too many tea breaks!

In his spare time Rhys is an avid motorsport enthusiast with Damon Hill being his all time hero, he loves playing football (unfortunately a Spurs supporter), going to the gym and supports Surrey County Cricket Club.

Richard Potton

Service Advisor

Richard is our dedicated Service Advisor and the friendly face of our service department. Whether you’re calling to book a service or walking through the door, Richard is likely the first person you’ll meet. With customer satisfaction as his mantra, he’s committed to ensuring every customer has a smooth and positive experience from start to finish.
Richard brings a wealth of knowledge from across the motor industry, with experience at prestigious brands such as Audi, McLaren, and Jaguar Land Rover.
Outside of work, Richard is a devoted family man who enjoys spending time with his family. He’s also passionate about fitness and can often be found at the gym or out on the open road on his Triumph Street Triple motorcycle – one of many bikes he’s owned over the years.
His favourite car? The iconic Ford Escort Series 2 RS Turbo.

Ashley “Melman” Stevenson

Parts Advisor

Known affectionately around the business as Melman (thanks to his height), Ash is the expert behind our Parts Department. He makes sure that every part, whether for stock vehicles or customer service needs, is exactly where it needs to be, right when it’s needed. From managing a high-demand parts room to preparing for the unexpected, Ash keeps the operation running like a finely tuned engine.
When he’s not tracking down rare components or keeping our inventory sharp, Ash channels his passion into rebuilding classic Japanese cars. A dedicated enthusiast, he owns not one but two Nissan Zs—and regularly puts one to the test in Gymkhana events. His dream ride? The legendary Nissan R34 Skyline.

Rory McLennan

Technician

Meet Rory – From Apprentice to Expert Mechanic. Rory is one of the brilliant mechanics who help keep our customers’ cars running smoothly here at Cridfords. He began his journey with us as an apprentice and has since grown into a fully qualified and highly skilled technician.
When he’s not working on our service or stock vehicles, Rory’s often found under the bonnet of one of his own cars. A true petrolhead, he spends much of his free time restoring and repairing his growing personal fleet — and racing them whenever the opportunity arises!
His favourite car? The iconic BMW E36 — a perfect choice for someone who lives and breathes performance and precision.

Steve Piggott

Technician

Steve is one of our most experienced techs having worked as a technician for an amazing 30 years! Steve started his career as an apprentice working for Lotus. After finishing his apprenticeship, he stayed working with Lotus for 13 years! Steve then worked at BMW and Audi for a couple of years before returning to Lotus for another long period. After spending so long at Lotus, Steve moved to Maclaren working on a multitude of cars including the McLaren P1! He spent the last 4 years at McLaren before coming to Cridfords. In his spare time Steve loves to spend time with his family but also likes canoeing, track days and going to the Rugby to watch his team play. Steve’s favourite car is a Mk1 VW Golf GTI

Alex Matthews

PDI Technician

Alex is a highly skilled PDI and Prep Technician whose meticulous attention to detail and passion for quality play a crucial role in getting vehicles customer ready. Whether it’s a routine pre-delivery inspection or specialist prep work, Alex ensures every car is prepared to the highest standard.
With over 20 years of experience at Škoda—where he served as a Master Technician and High Voltage Expert, based at the very site Cridfords now occupies, Alex brings a deep well of technical knowledge and hands-on expertise to our team. His experience, and unwavering commitment make him an invaluable asset to the workshop.
Outside of work, Alex is just as driven. He coaches local football teams, is a dedicated Tottenham Hotspur supporter, and enjoys running, gym training, and competing in half marathons. When it’s time to relax, you’ll often find him with a good book in hand.
His favourite car? The iconic Mach 1 Ford Mustang

Alex Hawkins

Detailing and Prep Centre

Alex came to us from a few different trades including kitchen and bathroom fitting and working for BT, following this he came to us and very quickly it became evident that he had an eye for detail, the processes we’d taught him just weren’t good enough so he spent lots of his personal time improving and honing his skills to reach perfection something he continues to do to this day.

Alex is responsible for making our cars, and our customers cars, look as good as they possibly can. He evaluates every car that goes through the dealership and prepares it for sale whether it be wheel refurbs, scratch removal or the odd panel of paint he’ll make sure it is up to standard, if you then have your car detailed with him you won’t believe the results. He is also responsible for the training of the whole detailing team.

Alex is a successful middle distance runner for Epsom & Ewell Harriers but will run a marathon occasionally. He is also a keen golfer and recently go a hole in one in a competition winning a holiday! He is a Japanese car enthusiast having owned several examples over the years. Favourite car – Nissan Skyline

Lee (Gary) Van Praagh

Valet

Lee joined the team a while back and is an invaluable part of the team. With a diverse background — including experience caring for autistic children — Lee brings empathy, dedication, and a strong work ethic to everything he does.
As a key member of our valet team, Lee plays a crucial role in ensuring our customers’ cars, as well as our stock vehicles, always look their absolute best before handover. He also supports our buying team by collecting new stock and assists our service department with the collection and delivery of customer vehicles — always with a friendly smile and can-do attitude.
Outside of work, Lee is a homebody who enjoys relaxing with his family and taking the dogs for a walk. His dream car? The iconic Ford Mustang.

Tony Connell

Driver/Valet

Tony is one of the most helpful and reliable members of our team—always ready to lend a hand wherever it’s needed. His main role involves working closely with our valet team to ensure our stock cars are spotless and presentable. But Tony’s support doesn’t stop there—he’s frequently out on the road, collecting new stock and delivering sold vehicles to customers across the country.
With a background in motorsport, including racing Metros in the Drayton Manor Cup, Tony brings a unique edge and passion for cars to the team. He’s also a keen sailor, showing his versatility and love for adventure both on land and at sea.
And when it comes to dream cars? For Tony, it doesn’t get better than the Lamborghini Aventador.

Lee Cordingley

Driver

Lee is one of our trusted drivers, bringing both reliability and a friendly face to every journey. Before joining our team, he worked at Gatwick Airport, where he gained invaluable experience in customer service. Lee has a real passion for travel—whether he’s behind the wheel or exploring new destinations in his own time. His love for the road and dedication to great service make him a favourite among our customers.

Harvey Roffe

Sales coordinator

As a Sales Coordinator, Harvey plays a vital role in helping make sure operations run smoothly between sales. His strong organisational skills and clear communication make him an invaluable part of the team.
In his spare time, Harvey enjoys learning to mix house music and playing games online, always seeking new challenges. His hobbies also include spending weekends travelling the country for racing in the British Championships, where he competes and pushes himself to the limit on the track. When he’s not racing, Harvey likes to unwind with a round of golf.
Before joining us, Harvey worked as an IT Support Technician, where he developed strong technical abilities and a keen eye for problem-solving. With his combination of technical expertise, passion for motorsport, and hard-working attitude, Harvey is a valued member of the team.
His favourite car? The Ferrari F40.