Helen Pattinson

Co-Founder and Director, Montezuma’s Chocolates

Helen qualified as a solicitor with City law firm, Lawrence Graham specialising in corporate
law. After working on several AIM flotations and seeing plenty of SMEs prosper, Helen was
convinced that she wanted to set up her own business. After meeting and marrying fellow
lawyer Simon, they gave up the law and took a year out to ‘find themselves’ and travelled to
South America. Whilst there, Helen and Simon developed a passion for all things chocolate
and the idea for Montezuma's was born.

Montezuma's Chocolates is now arguably the UK's most innovative chocolate manufacturer
with multiple sales channels including Waitrose, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s and Liberty of
London as well as six of its own stores and website. Montezuma’s also exports to more than
30 countries worldwide. Award winning in its first year, Montezuma's continues to win
awards for its premium chocolate bars and truffles and produces all of its chocolate on the
Sussex coast. Helen and Simon still run the business and are focussing on establishing a
family business with a long future. With three daughters, Helen is passionate about
inspiring the young women in the business that ‘you can have it all’.