Julia Edmonds joins Elior UK board as corporate business development director

Elior UK has announced the appointment of Julia Edmonds onto its board in the new position of corporate business development director to support it in achieving sustainable growth.

In the new role, she will take overall responsibility for the sales development of the group's UK business, delivering the development strategy across each of the market sectors.

Her new responsibilities will include the role of non-executive chair of Lexington, of which she has been managing director since 2011, having joined the caterer's executive team in 2007 as sales and marketing director. A successor to Edmonds as managing director of Lexington will be announced in due course.

She said: “I am really looking forward to stepping up into this role at a time when the ‘new normal’ starts to emerge and I welcome the opportunity to be able to support the strategic objectives of the Elior UK business and our clients on an exciting journey of innovation and growth.

“Becoming part of the Elior family back in 2014 gave Lexington the scale and additional resources to achieve continued security and innovation for clients and opportunities for the team. This has undoubtedly ensured we are in a strong position to support all of our clients as they come out of the pandemic.”

Catherine Roe, chief executive of Elior UK, said: “We have worked hard to ensure we have the right blend of leadership, experience and expertise in all areas of the business. Together, the leadership team embodies our commitment to gender diversity across the entire organisation.

“Julia will bring immense value to the leadership team and will play a vital role in delivering impact to our clients and business growth. I am excited at the prospect of what we can achieve together as a team."

Earlier this year, Michal Seal joined the Elior UK leadership team as marketing and communications director, as did Sally Leigh as strategic purchasing and logistics director.

Edmonds took the helm of Lexington in January 2020 after chief executive Mike Sunley stood down. Sunley launched the company in 2002 alongside Katharine Lewis and Rachel Lindner. Lexington was acquired by Elior in 2014.