He joined Lexington in 2006 and has since seen the business quadruple in size, with annual sales currently of more than £32m and employing 700 people.
It ranked 7th in this year’s Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For and has earned the maximum three-star rating with the Best Companies accreditation scheme.
He is also extensively involved in the wider industry as a visiting Fellow at Oxford Brookes University and a founder member of the mentoring scheme for final year students at its hotel school.
He also sits on the British Hospitality Association’s Food & Service Management panel and chaired Springboard’s Inspire project, which aims to help youngsters get placements within catering.
In addition he is a patron member of the Association of Catering Excellence and serves as the industry’s representative on the Council for Hospitality Management Education.
The Public Sector Special Award went to Roger Kellow, Government Account Manager for equipment supplier Hobart UK.
A citation read out at the awards said that alongside a 25-year sales career, he has committed time plus his organisational and networking skills to help caterers in the care sector, schools, hospitals and universities.
Together with long-time National Association (NACC) collaborator Mary Wedge he has organised the association’s annual conference for 17 years and was chairman of the group from 2001- 2005.
The full list of last night’s winners and runners-up is:
Cost Sector Catering Awards 2014
Armed Services Award (sponsored by Purple Foodservice)
Winner: Sgt Stewart Thorpe RAF
Runners-up:
Sgt Lewis Dodds RLC
LLog Russell Keitch RN
Care Catering Award (sponsored by Pritchitts)
Winner: Nicola Bowen-Smith – Cardiff Council
Runners-up:
Alan Chandler - Elior
Bill Kennedy – Tayside Contracts
Vera Mircescu - HOST at St Christophers
Paul Robottom - Caterplus
Chef Award (sponsored by E&R Moffat)
Winner: Pamela Jamieson - North Ayrshire
Runners-up:
Andrew Carter - University of Brighton
Glyn Greenow - Sodexo
Lloyd Mann – ISS Food & Hospitality
Scott Pring - Bridgwater College
Contract Catering Award (sponsored by Gram UK)
Winner: Caterplus
Runners-up:
Amadeus
Gather & Gather
Olive Catering
Brookwood
Corporate Responsibility Award (sponsored by McCain Foods)
Winner: Education Catering, Cardiff Council
Runners-up:
Gather & Gather
North Ayrshire Council
Sussex Partnership
Brookwood Partnership
Cost Sector Team of the Year (sponsored by Theo’s Food Co)
Winner: North Ayrshire Council
Runners-up:
Bridgwater College
Gateshead Council
Plymouth Education Catering Service
Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Education Award (sponsored by Premier Foods)
Winner: Karen Moteane – Cardiff Council
Runners-up:
Busy Bees Nursery Catering Team
Mark Davies – ISS Facility Services Education
Paul Fisher – Elior UK
Gateshead Council
Event/Stadia/Arena Award (sponsored by Pasta King)
Winner: Dine Events
Runners-up:
Inn or Out
University of St Andrews
Healthcare Award (sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions)
Winner: Emma Wilson – Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Runners-up:
Andy Jones – ISS Mediclean
William McCartney – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Derrick Stevens – Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Innovation Award (sponsored by In House Manager)
Winner: Quantum Dining Club
Runners-up:
Tayside Contracts - Primary School Menus
Brookwood Partnership
Harrogate Food Angels
Marketing Award (sponsored by Hotelympia 2014)
Winner: NACC Midlands Region
Runners-up:
Eden Foodservice
Gateshead Council
University of Leeds
Hertfordshire Catering
Multi Site Manager (sponsored by Nero & Bianco)
Winner: Bridgette Roberts - Sodexo
Runners-up:
Richard Drewett - TnS Catering
Mark Argent - Catering Academy
Ian Toole - Aramark
Andy Walker – Mellors Catering Services
PS100 Health & Nutrition Award
Joint Winners: Bolton School Meals/Food Dudes
Manchester Fayre
Runners-up:
NACC/HCA/PSA – Nutrition & Hydration Week
Preston Walker, Oak House Residential Home
North Ayrshire Council
Public Sector Award (sponsored by Middleton Foods)
Winner: Edward Griffiths - Royal Household
Runners-up:
Emma Strachan - Office of the Director of Public Health
Caroline Lecko, Patient Safety Lead, NHS Commissioning Board
Unit Manager Award (sponsored by Peros)
Winner: Craig Robinson - Harrison Catering
Runners-up:
Paul Bate – Amadeus (NEC)
Taff Doyle – Aramark (AEGEON)
Stephen England - Ogilvy & Mather
Paul Toms - Olive Catering
University/College Award (sponsored by Brakes)
Winner: Viv Shinner - Aramark
Runners-up:
David Hicks - University of Brighton
David Jones - University of Hertfordshire
Kay Jones - Newcastle University
Clive Williams - University of Leicester
Special Award – Public Sector (sponsored by Hobart UK)
Winner: Roger Kellow – Hobart UK
Special Award – Contract Catering (sponsored by Hobart Cooking Solutions)
Winner: Tim West – Lexington Catering