ANDREW SUDDARDS HARTLEY
Managing Director

A PASSION FOR ADVENTURE

Despite his forebears being renowned 18th century wool merchants on his mother’s side and silk weavers on his father’s side, Andrew’s youthful passion wasn’t textiles but archaeology – preferably laced with a generous helping of adventure. Fortunately, he was able to pursue both when he won an army bursary to Durham University.

Following a serious injury sustained during Adventurous Training in Kenya, Andrew was medically discharged from the army and joined the family wool spinning business in Australia. Three years later, Channel 4 invited him to make a TV documentary retracing Count Sámuel Teleki’s 1888 expedition to locate Africa’s . It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

With his TV series successfully completed, Andrew wanted a new challenge. He decided to apply his knowledge of carpet yarns to setting up his own carpet business in Paris. The combination of his unstoppable drive, inspired French design, and traditional British craftsmanship, proved a hit with interior designers and discerning clients across Europe.

Andrew’s adventurous nature remains undimmed. He delights in bringing the company’s products to new markets all over the world and is a champion of British manufacturing. His continuing affection for Africa is maintained through charitable work which includes supporting an orphanage in Malawi.

Never reluctant to put himself forward, his neck-breaking (literally) effort in rescuing Parisians from a burning building resulted in him being awarded the honour of the French Etoile Civique. Typically, having fractured almost every bone in his body over the years, he claims to feel fitter than ever.