Tom Barrett is understood to be about to leave his job as City managing director of contract caterer Avenance.
Rumours are rife that he and Frank Bothwell, Avenance's regional managing director for Greater London and the South-east of England, are leaving to set up their own company. Barrett said he could not comment on the speculation for at least another couple of weeks.
Barrett and Bothwell both joined Avenance in July last year. Barrett was previously operations director at contract caterer Charlton House, and Bothwell was regional managing director of Sodexho UK.
One industry source said: "It will make a massive difference to the company to lose both men at once, particularly as they've done so well."
Last week, Caterer reported that Tim West had stepped down as chief executive of Avenance (Caterer, 8 July, page 9) to become chairman. Barrett declined to comment on whether his own departure was related.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 15 July 2004