Amanda McLaren is the Managing Director of AW Hainsworth, a 243-year-old Textile Manufacturing Business, based in Pudsey, near Leeds, where she is charged with leading the Business through a new era of growth. Backed by family shareholder investment, Amanda was appointed in April 2021, to establish and implement a long-term sustainability strategy for the Business, which would ensure it would continue to thrive, for many generations to come.

Amanda has spent over 36 years working across UK Manufacturing – gaining experience in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Automotive, Leisure and Textile Sectors. For over 20 of these years’, she has operated at Board level and as such carries a passion for ‘Made in the UK’ products.

Prior to joining AW Hainsworth in April 2021, Amanda spent a total of 15 years’ working for a Global leader in the supply of Textile Testing Machinery – a role which demanded extensive travel, to visit Overseas Mills, Test Houses and premium brand Retailers alike, gaining her a tremendous amount of Global trading experience. The Company’s financial performance during her tenure as Managing Director, was nothing but impressive.

Amanda is known as an approachable, passionate, and driven leader, who leads by example and generates results; whilst never under-valuing the most important commodity in any Business – it’s people.

Amanda is also a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, a Non-Executive Board Member of the Textile Centre of Excellent, is actively engaged with Leeds University’s LITAC Industry Advisory Board and is a member of the Worshipful Company of Weavers.