Allister Richards appointed chair of Springboard

Allister Richards, chief operating officer at CH&Co, has been named chair of industry charity Springboard.

Richards is taking over from Alastair Storey, chair of WSH, who has led the charity’s board since 2019.

During his six-year tenure, Storey supported more than 21,000 people into hospitality jobs and delivered the ‘Springboard to 2022’ project.

Storey said: “It has been a privilege to serve as chair of the Springboard Charity and witness the incredible impact it has on young people’s lives. I am confident that under Allister’s leadership, the charity will continue to grow and change lives for the better.”

Richards started his career in hospitality as an investment manager for the Spirit Group before moving into foodservice as managing director for England and Wales at Sodexo Prestige. After being named managing director at Mitie Catering in 2011, he rebranded the business to Gather & Gather and led the sale of the business to CH&Co in 2019.  

Richards said: “The Springboard Charity plays a crucial role in shaping the future of hospitality by inspiring and supporting the next generation. I am honoured to take on this role and look forward to working with the team to build on its successes and drive further positive change.”

Chris Gamm, chief executive of the Springboard Charity, added: “I’d like to thank Alastair for his outstanding leadership and commitment over the past six years. His guidance has helped Springboard grow its impact significantly, supporting more young people into life-changing careers. I’m delighted to welcome Allister as our new chair and look forward to working together to continue driving forward our mission.”

Springboard was established 35 years ago by Stephen Moss and supports 5,000 people into work each year.