Gaye Bullard of Sodexo new ACE chair

Gaye Bullard of Sodexo has taken over from Paul Hurren as chair of the Association of Catering Excellence (ACE) after two years as vice chair and seven as a council member.

Bullard (pictured left), Sodexo's business development manager, business and industry, officially took over from Hurren (right), winner of the Cateys 2017 Foodservice Caterer award, on 19 July at the ACE Summer Party at ZSL London Zoo. She is planning to extend the reach of the association.

Gaye will be supported by newly appointed vice chair, Sue Thompson of Restaurant Associates, who has been an active council member for six years, acting on several sub-committees organising events.

Bullard said: "I'm really excited about taking over as ACE chair. Paul has done an amazing job, and I am looking forward to building on the foundations that Paul has created by extending our reach to a wider demographic.

"We'll be encouraging smaller organisations to join ACE and delving a bit deeper into the larger corporates. There are still people within them that don't even know we exist and they could be getting a lot of value out of our events."

Hurren said: "We've had so much fun in the last two years and everyone has got behind my main drive of engaging with the next generation. I know Gaye will do an absolutely fantastic job and I encourage her to enjoy every minute as the two years will fly by."

Lusso boss Paul Hurren named ACE chair >>

Adam Handling to become chef patron of ACE >>

ACE 80th birthday dinner raises £16,000 for Wiggly Worm charity >>

Videos from The Caterer archives

Are you looking for a new role? See all the current hospitality vacancies available with The Caterer Jobs