Funeral Partners announce new CEO

Funeral industry professional Sam Kershaw has been appointed chief executive officer of Funeral Partners, the UK’s third largest funeral business.

Sam has over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Having joined J H Kenyon as a Trainee Funeral Director in 1980, he has held senior management positions in some of the UK’s largest funeral businesses.

He has served as president of the London Association of Funeral Directors and is currently an executive committee member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD).

His appointment follows the retirement from the role of Phillip Greenfield, who established and built up Funeral Partners.

Sam joined Funeral Partners in 2016 as chief operating operator, working alongside Phillip Greenfield.

Sam said: “Phillip Greenfield has created the third largest funeral business in the country, but what is really special is the supportive culture he has developed. Our funeral home teams up and down the country continue to demonstrate great pride in their work and the support they give to families, taking personal responsibility for delivering an excellent service.

“Funeral Partners has invested in these family businesses, while protecting their heritage and retaining their local identity. We work closely with the owners to develop a plan on how their funeral homes will develop within the Funeral Partners family yet retain the ethos of an independent business, providing high levels of customer and community service. I look forward to leading Funeral Partners’ continued growth into a truly countrywide business.”