Amadeus appoints Paul Connolly executive chef of NEC

Venue and event caterer Amadeus has announced the appointment of Paul Connolly as executive chef of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

Connolly has worked for the caterer for more than 30 years, having joined as a trainee aged 17.

He will be responsible for menu development, procurement, food safety and sustainability initiatives at the venue, which welcomes 2.4 million visitors to its 500 annual events, as well as fine dining.

The new executive chef is also an ambassador for Amadeus' apprenticeship programme.

Marc Frankl, food and beverage director for Amadeus, said: "Paul has a fantastic track record of creating innovative concepts and improving restaurant standards and profitability. He is the ideal candidate to drive the F&B offering at the venue forward, ensuring Amadeus remains competitive in an increasingly challenging market."

Amadeus acquired by Blackstone as part of NEC group deal>>