Allister Richards promoted to CH&Co chief operating officer after management reshuffle

Allister Richards has been promoted to chief operating officer of CH&Co as part of a wider reshuffle of the business.

Previously managing director of Gather & Gather, the catering arm of Mitie acquired by CH&Co in August 2019, Richards will now head up the workplace, events and venues divisions of the business.

The move had been expected following the departure of Patrick Harbour, who was executive director, shortly after the Gather & Gather deal.

Meanwhile, Rob Fredrickson steps up to take responsibility for Gather & Gather UK & Creativevents as managing director.

Following the acquisition of Scotland-based workplace and education caterer Inspire in March 2019, founders David Pease and Lorna McFarlane have now left from the business. As a result Matt Symonds’ role as managing director for CH&Co Workplaces outside of London has been expanded to include Scotland and the Inspire business.

Both Fredrickson and Symonds will report into Richards, along with CH&Co’s London workplace operations team and Pauline Cox, who heads up of Gather & Gather Ireland.

CH&Co’s events business will continue to be led by Carly Mitchell, while Katy Thompson becomes managing director for venues after the successful introduction of Eve, a digital event booking and management service.

CH&Co chief executive Bill Toner will retain direct responsibility for the education and healthcare business, which will be led by Deborah Homshaw.

He said: “Organic growth and merger and acquisitions have taken our team to more than 10,000 people and we’re well placed to realise a turnover of £500m by the end of 2020. Our reorganisation is an important part of our strategy to reach this milestone.

“Following extensive discussions with our leadership team and listening to valuable feedback from clients and consultants, continued focus on market leadership in our core sectors is key to ongoing success. There are fantastic growth opportunities across our sectors and geographical areas and the new structure puts us in a good place to realise these.”

CH&Co’s group-wide support functions have also been strengthened with Madeleine Musselwhite, executive director M&A, Terry Waldron, executive director central resources, Nick Thomas, chief financial officer, and Nick Clegg, group sales director, continuing to lead their combined functions centrally.