Oxfordshire: New MD for Colourful Coffins

Oxfordshire-based Colourful Coffins has appointed award-winning businessman Chris Lima as its new managing director.

The move sees company founder Mary Tomes step into a developmental role, focusing on new product creation and innovation.

Lima, who spent the past seven years as managing director at Simon Hegele Logistics and Service in Milton Park, says the company is well placed to take advantage of the UK’s expanding bespoke funeral market.

“Potentially, we have the ability to play an important part in changing the way the public views the difficult subjects of death and funerals, and to me that’s a very exciting prospect,” he said.

“We have a very strong brand and I want to build on that, while also doing things a little bit differently. For the first time I have found a business which merges my own personal values with my career aspirations. When I look at a Colourful Coffin, I now understand the way it truly represents an individual and just how important that is to a family.”

Tomes commented: “Chris is an incredibly experienced businessman and brings new strategic skills to the role. We believe his appointment signals a major turning point in the future growth of Colourful Coffins.

“Having launched the concept of Colourful Coffins in the first place, the need to innovate and create has always been very important to me. I am delighted that I will now have the time to focus on new ideas to help families give their loved ones a very special and personalised farewell.”

During his time at Simon Hegele, Lima led the business to top honours in the Large Business Category of the Oxford Business Awards 2012; while at a personal level his achievements have been recognised with awards for Leadership in Corporate Responsibility, and Outstanding Contribution to an Organisation, which were from the IoD London and South East and Open University respectively.

His business qualifications include a diploma in company direction from the IoD and an Open University MBA.