Artfarm operations director joins Copper Beech as COO

Jonno Forbes has been appointed chief operating officer of private members’ club advisory firm Copper Beech.

He joins Copper Beech from Artfarm, where he was formerly operations director, overseeing the Hauser & Wirth hospitality portfolio, which includes the likes of the Fife Arms in Scotland, Cantina in Menorca and Chesa Marchetta in Switzerland.

Prior to that, he was director of business development at Caprice Holdings, where he was involved in launching Scott’s Richmond and Bacchanalia in London’s Mayfair.

During his decade with the Fat Duck Group, he was part of the team that opened the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.

His appointment coincides with Copper Beech’s plans to provide operational business management services in addition to consulting on projects concerning private members’ clubs and luxury hospitality businesses.

Matt Hobbs, founder of Copper Beech, said: “These new appointments represent the next chapter for Copper Beech. Having supported the launch and ongoing evolution of some of the world’s best known members’ clubs and hospitality assets, it feels like a natural time for us take this next step. Working with a number of forward thinking clients, from sovereign wealth funds to private equity investors and family offices, we have an exciting pipeline of new high end hospitality offerings opening across the world.”

Forbes added: “Having admired what Matt and the team have built over the years, I’m thrilled to be joining Copper Beech and at such an exciting time in its evolution. I am looking forward to building on what the business has achieved to date and to delivering several new hospitality projects around the world as Copper Beech evolves its offering.”

The company has also promoted Fia Freeman to the role of chief commercial officer to lead on brand positioning, partnerships and revenue strategy.

Hobbs founded Copper Beech in 2018 after having served as chief executive of the Groucho Club and supported on Soho House New York and Annabel’s.

Copper Beech has played a part in projects such as Stoke Park, Ladbroke Hall, the Town Hall Camden, the Craigellachie Speyside and the Pembroke Belgravia.

The business also has joint venture partnerships across Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and the USA.