After 33 years in the greeting card industry, Jayne Myers, commercial director of UKG, has made the decision to take early retirement. She leaves the business at the end of May, having ensured that UKG’s new restructure (expected to be completed in February) is bedded in.
“I have worked all my life, since I was 18. I didn’t have a ‘gap year’ or even maternity leave, so now is my time to have both rolled in together, without the responsibility of a baby or worries about whether I have chosen the right uni course!” quipped Jayne.
Having enjoyed a full career in the greeting card industry – working for Fine Art Developments, WN Sharpe/Hallmark, Paper Rose (where she was managing director for eight years) and UKG (her home for a total of 13 years) – Jane is not discounting returning to the greeting card fold in the future, albeit likely to be in more of an advisory capacity, using her experience to help a small publisher.
“I am going to have the summer off, doing lots of different things with friends, as well as scuba diving, gardening and my floral bridal work,” said Jane. When asked what she sees as her greatest achievements to date, rather picking the various business triumphs of which she has played a part, Jayne is quick to retort: “Living to 60 and being able to dive to 30 metres!”
Breaking the news officially to the UKG team at the end of last year, James Conn, ceo of UKG said that while he was sad that she is to leave, she is happy that she is able to have some free time to focus on the things she loves outside of work. “Jayne has a huge amount of passion and commitment for our business and during her career has earned a huge amount of respect within the industry”. He wished her “good health and much happiness” in her retirement.
Top: Jayne Myers is looking forward to her long awaited ‘gap year’.
