Supplier movers and shakers: New starters at Umbrella Training, Apaleo, Bord Bia and more

Bord Bia appoints new UK market manager

Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) has appointed Conor O’Sullivan to the role of UK market manager. O’Sullivan will bring more than a decade of international experience to the role, having most recently served as Bord Bia’s China market manager. He will be responsible for leading global business initiatives in the UK.

Sysco wholesalers welcome new MD

Sysco group’s regional wholesalers – Kent-based KFF and Medina Foodservice, which operates from depots on the Isle of Wight and Southampton – have welcomed Neil Williams as their managing director. Williams replaces Mark Taylor, who is moving to another position within Sysco GB after spending more than 10 years in various roles at sister company Brakes, most recently as regional sales director.

RDA expands its team

Kitchen design and installation firm RDA is welcoming three new members to its team. Stepping into the role of project manager is Peter Roworth (left), who brings experience managing projects across hospitality and retail, including for the Ivy, Domino’s Pizza and Abercrombie & Fitch. Joining as designer is Jenny Raine (centre), an accomplished interior architect, while Peter Chappell (right) becomes business support administrator, with a background in both business support and restaurant management.

New Zealand Winegrowers CEO to retire

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan is to retire in June 2026, marking 43 years of service to the New Zealand wine industry. His career began when he was fresh out of university  in 1983, when he joined the Wine Institute as research officer in the early 1990s. He was then appointed chief executive of the Wine Institute, playing an integral role in New Zealand wine’s international trade negotiations. In 2002 the Wine Institute merged with the Grape Growers Council to form the New Zealand Winegrowers and Gregan was appointed chief executive of the new organisation. His successor is yet to be announced.

Photo: New Zealand Winegrowers

Apaleo boosts team ahead of next growth phase

Hospitality property management platform Apaleo has announced two additions to its team as it prepares for its next phase of international growth. Leonie Häsler, director of people and culture, brings cross-industry experience, with a career at Soho House and Meininger Hotels and most recently at private equity company Moonfare. Andre Klan, chief financial officer, has experience in financial and operational leadership across SaaS and software scale-ups, latterly as head of finance at cloud-enterprise resource planning provider Xentral.

Beverage specialist joins Vinarchy

Wine company Vinarchy has hired Amanda Almond as regional managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, succeeding Derek Nicol. Almond brings more than 25 years of experience in the beverage industry, including senior leadership roles at Bacardi, PepsiCo and Lindt. She most recently led Bacardi’s operations across North Europe, Iberia, Greece, the UK and Ireland.

EFCEM awaits new secretary general

The European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers (EFCEM) has announced that Iain Munro (left) will stand down as secretary general at the end of this year. Munro has held the position since June 2023 and is retiring from the industry. Joakim Granfors, previously vice-president of EFCEM between 2023-2025 and formerly vice-president of R&D innovation at equipment manufacturer Angelo Po, will take over as secretary general in the New Year.

Blandy’s bolsters UK presence

Madeira wine company Blandy’s has appointed Demetri Walters as its UK brand ambassador. Walters will spearhead educational and advocacy initiatives across the UK, working closely with wine professionals and consumers to deepen understanding of the region’s wines. Walters brings expertise in fortified and sweet wines as well as his Master of Wine credentials earned in 2013 and two decades within the global wine scene.

Tariq Valani heads to start-up Inntelo AI

Tariq Valani has joined hospitality AI start-up Inntelo AI’s founding team as co-founder and chief product innovation officer. Valani has more than 25 years of experience in hospitality technology and will support Inntelo AI to help hospitality and real estate brands make better use of artificial intelligence. He most recently held a senior leadership role at Accor, where he consolidated its global technical support services and oversaw technology operations for more than 5,500 hotels across 43 brands and 117 countries. He has also held senior technology positions at Fairmont, Mövenpick and Jumeirah, in addition to being a board member of HITEC event organiser HFTP.

Cask Liquid Marketing appoints ex-Fells MD as consultant

Cask Liquid Marketing has appointed Steve Moody as senior business consultant to strengthen its position in spirits and liqueurs distribution. Moody has more than 33 years of experience in port and wine distribution and brings 13 years as managing director of John E Fells Fine Wines, where he grew revenue from £50m to £90m. Moody’s role will focus on business growth, making the most of his ‘black book’ of contacts to increase sales within the current portfolio, as well as identifying and bringing on board new strategic partners.

Denby creates hospitality sales manager role

Denby Group has appointed Jo Derbyshire into the newly-created role of sales manager for hospitality, covering Denby and Burleigh Pottery. Derbyshire brings with her more than 25 years of experience in the sector working with both Steelite and Churchill and more recently as head of sales for William Edwards. She will work alongside the Denby Group’s other sales channels to develop relationships with hospitality customers, distributors and end users, both in the UK and internationally.

Cardrona Distillery switches leaders

Cardrona Distillery’s founder and managing director Desiree Reid is moving into the role of global sales director with parent company International Beverage, relocating to Scotland to focus on driving global growth for all International Beverage brands. Henry Caulton, Cardrona’s chief financial officer since 2022, will take over from Reid, moving into the role of acting managing director. Caulton is a fully qualified chartered accountant and brings strategic and financial experience to the role.

Former Creed MD to retire

Creed Foodservice’s strategy director and former managing director Philip de Ternant will retire at the end of 2025, concluding a 19-year career with the food and drink wholesaler. He joined Creed Foodservice in 2006 as operations director before becoming managing director in 2013, a role he held for 11 years. In January 2024, after a 12-month handover starting in 2023, he handed the reins to Miles Roberts, stepping into the position of strategy director and continuing to support the company as a member of the board.

Procurement Partners hires new duo

Food procurement specialist Procurement Partners has made two key senior appointments: Douglas Waddell joins as director of hospitality, and Sinead Smyth has been appointed as head of procurement. Waddell brings experience from leadership roles at Queens Moat Houses, Esporta and Hand Picked Hotels and will be expanding Procurement Partners’ presence across the UK hospitality sector. Smyth will lead the team in driving efficiencies and ensuring clients continue to benefit from the best quality and value in the market.

HTG makes double change

HTG Trading has promoted George Fell (left) to equipment sales director for the group’s two main subsidiaries, Hubbard Services and Taylor UK.  As well as heading equipment sales, he will continue in his role of looking after global key accounts for the group. Fell has been with HTG for just over 10 years, latterly as head of sales for Hubbard Systems. Meanwhile, Adam Wilkinson (right) has joined Hubbard Systems as business development manager. He will focus on promoting the Scotsman ice systems and the Eloma range of combi-ovens across London and the south of England.

Löfbergs recruits commercial chief

Swedish-based coffee roaster Löfbergs has appointed Kieran Youngman as its chief commercial officer. He takes responsibility for driving commercial growth in markets such as the UK and Denmark. Youngman has more than 20 years of international experience in the fast-moving consumer goods sector and has held senior leadership roles at Danone, Procter & Gamble and most recently as general manager for the Nordics and northern Europe at the Livekindly Collective.

Mechline creates market development director role

Hygiene and safety equipment supplier Mechline has brought Gary Thacker on-board in the newly-created role of market development director. Thackers has more than 25 years’ experience working within the catering equipment industry, most recently for display specialist Fri-Jado and previously Standex. His remit will extend beyond the UK to include global growth opportunities across foodservice, hospitality and hygiene.

Longbottom & Co promotes from within for new CEO

Tomato juice supplier Longbottom & Co has promoted Alexander Jeffreys from sales director to group chief executive. Jeffreys has more than a decade of experience driving growth for drinks businesses, including Sipsmith and Sacred Spirits. He is from a hospitality and business pedigree: his uncle opened the Joe Allen restaurant in London’s Covent Garden in 1977, and his family have owned and run luxury interiors company Designers Guild since 1970.