Penny Newman leaves Fifteen

Penny Newman has left her role as chief executive of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant company.

Newman, who was previously chief executive of fair trade coffee business CafeDirect, was brought on board in September 2008 for her mix of financial and values-driven business acumen.

Her resignation was filed with Companies House last month.

A source told Caterer that her departure came at a time when the company was looking at integrating Fifteen's restaurant operations with other businesses in the group.

"Now Jamie's got a restaurant empire they didn't see the need to have two sets of management team, and the plan is to run them side by side," the source said.

Jamie Oliver Ltd said that Newman's departure was by mutual consent and that Fifteen would now come under the remit of its senior management staff, while being supervised by the Jamie Oliver Foundation's board of trustees.

"We wish Penny every success going forward and thank her for her contribution to the Jamie Oliver Foundation," the company said.

Fifteen has four restaurants worldwide in Amsterdam, Cornwall, London and Melbourne, and runs an apprenticeship scheme for young people between the ages of 18 and 24. It is named after the first 15 young people who joined Oliver's London chef apprenticeship scheme in 2002.

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By Neil Gerrard

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