Aramark has announced that Graham Merchant, a divisional director with the contract caterer until November 2010, has died.
In a note to colleagues, the UK chief executive Andrew Main said that Merchant passed away on December 16 following a short illness related to a hereditary kidney condition.
“Many of us have very fond memories of Graham formed during his career with Aramark; a career in which he built our Salvation Army relationship from two small hostels in Scotland to the multi-million UK wide relationship that it now is,” Main said.
“He was recognised a few years ago at our awards dinner in London as the UK Operator of the year – recognising not only the terrific client relationship management he provided to the Salvation Army but also for his wider leadership of the Healthcare Operations, particularly at Epsom St Hellier and Queen Marys Hospital in Kent.
“Since leaving the firm he maintained great relationships with many of his former colleagues and it is of some comfort to know that during his last days a number of his dear friends and members of his family were with him.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to them this evening on their loss and we remember with much fondness, one of the special characters of our recent history.”
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