THE TEAM

Meister Masonry is a family owned and managed company and family values run very much at its core. The company places great importance on its skilled craftsmen and employees and actively supports apprenticeships and training.

Many of the most experienced masons working at Meister began their careers decades ago, as apprentices with the company – and this culture of learning, training and support is highly valued. Although Meister operates with state of the art equipment, the company is dedicated to preserving and encouraging traditional stonemasonry skills.

Richard Heather

CEO & Founder

Richard completed his stonemasonry apprenticeship at Gloucester Cathedral before founding Meister Masonry in 2005. Away from work, he’s a keen skier who escapes to Austria when the season hits, and he’s always up for great food and a good bottle of wine. A big music fan (especially Elton John and Coldplay), Richard is also a proud dad of five and a lifelong Manchester United supporter.

Chris O’Dell

Managing Director

Chris joined Meister in 2018, bringing 15 years’ experience from the timber frame housebuilding sector. He’s a motorsport and F1 fan, follows Oxford United, and enjoys travelling whenever he can. Chris is also a dad of five, so life is rarely quiet.

Paul Keyte

Sales Director

Paul has over 27 years’ experience in the mineral extractives and stone processing industry and has been a Fellow Member of the Institute of Quarrying since 2018. He’s a long-suffering Oxford United season ticket holder who enjoys countryside walks, Italian food and wine, and most music genres, with Coldplay and Oasis topping the list. Married for over 32 years, Paul is a proud dad of two, a very proud grandfather to Marnie Florence, and yes, he really does love Guinness.

Sheila Gass

Accountant

Sheila began her career in accounts at just 16, starting out in purchase ledger before progressing into account management and building a strong foundation of experience across the finance function. Over the years, she has developed a keen eye for detail and a practical, hands-on approach to managing accounts. She recently joined Meister as our Accountant, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for her role. Outside of work, Sheila enjoys getting creative with crafts and has a passion for music; especially Industrial bands like Rammstein.

Mark Chapman

Design Manager

Mark began his apprenticeship at Ashby & Horner in 1988 and moved into the design office in 1996, building decades of knowledge along the way. Outside work, he’s usually on a bike, often in Majorca, or at Park Run on a Saturday. Mark has two children, a miniature schnauzer, and a newer hobby on the go: pottery.

Chris Bright

Contracts Manager

Chris has spent 23 years in stonemasonry and restoration, including more than seven years as principal masonry contractor at The Royal Courts of Justice. He’s a devoted family man with one son, three stepchildren and three grandchildren, and he supports Ipswich Town. When he’s not helping manage his son’s football team, you’ll likely find him enjoying good food (especially Indian) and listening to music across most genres.

Alex Stini

Head of Installation

After finishing college, Alex started out as a hydraulic systems engineer but quickly realised construction was where he belonged, working in stonemasonry alongside his father. He moved to England in 2017, joined Meister in early 2018, and has worked across a wide range of internal and external stone projects. Married with two children, Alex sums it up simply: stonemasonry is more than a job, it’s his passion, and he unwinds with music, particularly classical piano.