Exodus of contract caterers continues

Two more high-profile figures have left their jobs in the contract catering industry.

Jim Walker, chief executive of Rentokil Initial's catering division, and Paul Daly, managing director of business and industry central at Sodexho, both cleared their desks last week.

Their exits follow the recent clearout at Compass and two senior departures from Aramark (http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/10/19/309559/Caterings+shifting+sands.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Caterer, 19 October, page 12).

Rentokil did not elaborate on the reasons behind Walker's decision to leave the company after 16 years, but Credit Suisse analyst Karl Green said it was probably part of new chief executive Doug Flynn's wider shake-up at the group.

One industry source said Walker had effectively been sidelined as a result. "A new power base was emerging and decisions were being taken out of his hands," they said.

Peter Taylor, managing director of the Autograph business and industry division, and Simon James, managing director of the Eden education brand, will stay in their jobs.

Sodexho refused to comment on the reasons behind Daly's exit.