Hobbs, who is director of Grande Cuisine, spent the last two years as vice chair of the FEA but now he has taken over the role from John Whitehouse.
Hobbs said: “[The] FEA has done important work over the past few months in helping both members and the foodservice industry as a whole deal with the ramifications of the pandemic.
“We need to push on with that work to help our sector survive and recover in the coming months. On Brexit, we have to keep up the pressure on government in areas such as staying aligned to EU standards.
“FEA has pushed the sustainability programme for many years, but I want to see us become even greener. I’m looking to promote more initiatives like Trees for Cities with our members.”
The FEA is in the process of planning a series of virtual events to offer a forum where operators can meet suppliers. FEA’s role in training and education will remain a focus, with the continuing development and expansion of the CFSP (Certified Food Service Professional) programme.
Hobbs is advocating for the broadening of the base of the FEA council membership by having a better mix of genders, more BAME presence and encouraging younger members to step up to the plate.
Simon Lohse, managing director of rational UK, has taken the position of FEA vice chair.