Compass UK rings management changes

UK managing director Ian El-Mokadem says: "The new teams will drive the company's overall strategy to simplify its business and ensure greater focus on client and customer needs." "It is critical we have the right people in place to implement our new strategic direction. The new teams will play key roles in achieving our Compass-wide goals." Five business directors will report to B&I managing director, Graham Sims from October 1. They will be responsible for all B&I contracts and client relationships within a specific geographic area. They include three people who are part of the current business and industry (B&I ) executive. Peter Bruce, who currently manages Compass's offshore activities for ESS UK, takes on additional responsibility for all other B&I contracts in Scotland and northern England, and Andy Harris becomes business director for the south. Mike Malloy remains in Ireland, with responsibility for all contracts in the north and republic. Caron Naylor, currently an operations director within B&I, is promoted to the role of business director, with responsibility for all client accounts in the east of England. Andy Barry moves from finance director in the health, education, defence and government (HEDG) sector, to oversee B&I activities in the west of England. Current B&I executive member, Mike Green takes up the newly-created role of business excellence director. His brief is to "support innovation and sharing best practice in contract catering, retail grab-and-go and support services across the B&I business". El-Mokadem says the development of retail grab-and-go activity is important, particularly in B&I where there is growing competition from within the sector and from high street retailers. "Support services, already a key client offer, will also see greater focus in the B&I business moving forward." Compass's current B&I operational structure and its management skills set have been reviewed and as a result all current operational managers (above unit manager level) have been invited to apply for new job roles, based on clearly defined competencies and specific geographic locations. All positions will be filled by early October. Within the HEDG team, there are two new roles that reporting to sector MD, Ian Sarson. They are Steve Cenci, who becomes business director for care & healthcare after five years as a senior manager within Medirest and Tony Byrne, previously MD for government services, who takes on additional responsibility for Compass' education business. Education will continue to operate under the brand names 'Scolarest' (for primary and secondary schools, and student services) and 'Chartwells' (independent day and boarding schools). El-Mokadem says a similar review of the middle management team roles within education is also underway to ensure the Scolarest and Chartwells teams work more closely together across geographic areas, and can better share best practice and support functions. "These changes will also result in some new job roles and responsibilities being brought into place, ready for the autumn term." There will also be increased administrative support for operators across both sectors from the autumn to ensure they can focus on client facing activity, in addition to new customer focused marketing offers and more employee training.