Meet The Team

Our Team

At Cuttlebrook Koi Farm we are a close knit team. All of us are involved in a wide range of jobs on the farm. Every week is different to the next, which certainly keeps us on our toes! 

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Mark Davis

Co-Founder

Background

- Diploma in Fishery Management from Sparsholt College (1983-85)

-1986 Worked in Japan at Kamihata Fish Industries (Hikari) learning breeding, rearing and selection of Koi

- 1987-1989 Worked at Brit Koi and Kent Koi

- Was one of the main contributors to the Interpet Encyclopedia of Koi

- 1996 Started Mark Davis Water Gardens. Went on to win 5 RHS Gold Awards and 1 Best in Show.

- Has been farming Koi in England since 1989

- Has written various magazine articles, given talks to Koi Clubs and guest lectures at Sparsholt College

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Managing and delivering our breeding programme
- Selection of all production on the farm
- System design, construction and maintenance
- Grounds and mud pond construction and maintenance
- Quality control
- Dealing with customer appointments and collection

How you became interested in Koi

While I was a student at Sparsholt, I was carrying out work experience at a carp farm in France and saw my first Koi. I also attended a lecture by the President of the British Koi Keepers Society. 

Favourite variety of Koi

Sanke

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Lisa Davis

Co-Founder

Background

- Worked in IT business to business sales and marketing before starting Cuttlebrook Koi Farm with Mark

- Over the years I've been involved with pretty much all aspects of running the farm, including harvesting mud ponds and selecting Koi fry!

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Oversight of all office based roles and functions
- Finance
- Legal issues
- Staffing and employment
- Compliance
- Dealing with general enquiries via telephone and email
- Liaising with customers regarding orders
- Dealing with unusual issues arising that do not fall within anyone else's remit

How you became interested in Koi

I met Mark and was hooked from then on!

Favourite variety of Koi

Showa

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Sam Norley

General Manager

Background

- BSc (Hons) Aquaculture and Fishery Management (First Class) from Sparsholt College

- Published scientific author in the field of live food: Norley, S. E., & Love, A. (2020). The effect of Virkon® aquatic on the bacterial count of Artemia cultures. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research

- Written articles for Koi magazines

- Worked in the aquatic industry since 2010

- Extensive experience in fish health and water quality

- Worked at Cuttlebrook Koi Farm since 2014

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Looking after and ensuring the optimum health of all the Koi in our RAS systems (Recirculation Aquaculture Systems)
- Marketing, promotion and sales strategies
- Social media management
- Managing online selling platforms
- Photographing and videoing Koi for sale
- Dealing with customer appointment, collections and shipments

How you became interested in Koi

I never had much interest or dealings with Koi until I came to CKF on work placement in 2014. After that I was hooked! I first got into fish keeping after winning a goldfish at the fair, I've since gone on to keep Discus and Marine fish.

Favourite variety of Koi

Showa

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Tracy Green

Operations manager

Background

- Worked in Field Marketing for 14 years within the operations team, then moved on to become a Senior Project Executive

- Many years experience working on financial budgets, analysing data and producing reports for manufacturers and tech companies

- Joined Cuttlebrook Koi Farm in 2021

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Sales and office administration
- Assisting customers with their enquires via phone and email
- Preparing all paperwork for fish shipments
- Assisting the team with packing fish shipments and ensuring all Koi arrive safely the following day
- Assisting with Koi food and dry goods packing for next day delivery

How you became interested in Koi

Before joining CKF I had no experience of Koi. Due to COVID, I found myself looking for a new job in May 2021. Joining CKF was like joining a new family and I have not looked back. I am fascinated by the Koi breeding process and love seeing the Koi develop.

Favourite variety of Koi

Hi Utsuri

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Lewis Campbell

farm assistant

Background

- Level 3 Fishery Management and Fish Husbandry from Sparsholt College
- First came to CKF when on work placement in 2023

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Maintaining all the filtration in our RAS systems (Recirculation Aquaculture Systems)
- Mud pond preparation and maintence 
- Assisting in photographing and videoing Koi for sale
- Dealing with customer appointments, collections and shipments

How you became interested in Koi

I became interested in Koi when I was 13 when I built my first pond and my passion grew more through out the years. This lead me to Sparsholt College to study fishey management and fish husbandry, to turn my interest into a career. 

Favourite variety of Koi

Sanke

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Neil Roe

farm assistant

Background

- Worked as a building site manager for many years
- Wanted a job close to home, as I now have young children and fancied a different career path
- Kept a number of Tropical fish, and still have two large aquariums now

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Responsible for giving the farm a face lift! Including painting and construction work around the farm
- Helping Mark with general maintence work
- Maintaining all the filtration in our RAS systems (Recirculation Aquaculture Systems)
- Mud pond preparation and maintenance

How you became interested in Koi

Came across Koi after following an interest in South East Asia, and then more specifically Japan. Researching this crazy sounding country that seemed very distant in culture from home. A rabbit hole that lead me to Japanese food, swords, and also Koi.

Favourite variety of Koi

Tancho Kohaku

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Annabel Stephenson

seasonal operations assistant

Background

- First met Mark and Lisa after we brought their old house in the village off them, went on to become good friends
- The farm was particularly busy in 2022, so I was asked by Mark to work a few days to help out. I enjoyed it so much I stayed working ever since!  

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Picking and packing Dry Goods for website orders
- Packaging tons and tons of Koi Food, from bulk sacks into our different sized packaging for customers 

How you became interested in Koi

In all honestly I don't have much of an interest in the Koi, and my job role doesn't involve the Koi very much. But I do think they're pretty to look at! 

Favourite variety of Koi

Hi Utsuri

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John Morgan

part-time farm assistant

Background

- Known around the farm as 'Long John'
- Commonly found with his Chihuahua not far behind him

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Keeping the farm grounds looking as good as they can. From general gardening work, to grass cutting and strimming.
- Ensuring the farm looks good for customers upon their arrival is Johns top priority!
- Fry grading and selection for customer orders and shipments

How you became interested in Koi

My father had a Koi pond when I was 5 years old, and after then my interest continued to grow. He still has one of the Koi in his pond now, which will be over 35 years old!

Favourite variety of Koi

Kujaku

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Jess Barker

seasonal farm assistant

Background

- First starting working at CKF as a Saturday job back in 2019

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Assisting with Koi food and dry goods packing for next day delivery
- Fry grading and selection for customer orders and shipments

How you became interested in Koi

I was first introduced to the world of Koi when I was a kid, and since then I haven't been able to escape!

Favourite variety of Koi

Gin Rin Ochiba

Metro 2

Aijo, Suki & Haiwa

Miniature Schnauzers

Background

- Suki joined the farm in 2016 (she is pepper and salt)

- Aijo joined the farm in 2018 (she is white)

- Haiwa is the son of Aijo. He was born on the farm in March 2022 (he is black)

Overall responsibilities and day to day duties

- Cuddles
- Meeting and greeting customers (noisily) 
- Putting muddy paw prints everywhere
- Chasing squirrels away
- Standing in wet cement (seasonal work)

How you became interested in Koi

Who said we were interested in the Koi?

Favourite variety of Koi

Bonios > Benigoi

Book Now

A Range Of Varieties

We breed a number of varieties of Koi each year and use our many years of experience to select the very best.

Hundreds Of Awards

We breed the finest Koi (Nishikigoi) in the UK and have won hundreds of awards for their owners over the years.

Online Or In-Person

You can buy the Koi we breed direct from us by visiting our farm in Oxfordshire, or you can order online.
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