Compass restructure ready 'within months'

Compass Group's UK operations will be revitalised and ready to face the challenges of the rapidly changing contract catering market within months, its UK & Ireland chief executive vowed this week.

Speaking to Caterer, Ian El‑Mokadem said that the review and subsequent streamlining of the business he instigated on joining from Onetel in May 2006 would be largely complete within two months.

Last week Compass made eight appointments to the senior management teams across its business and industry (B&I) and health, education, defence and government (HEDG) divisions, to make sure that it had "the right people in the right places".

The appointments are intended to improve internal communications and, with a reduction in the numbers of middle managers, to simplify the company's structure, which had become confused after a slew of acquisitions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

El-Mokadem said: "This is not a cost-cutting measure, we are simply doing what we need to, to be successful in the future. The changes are intended to enable our senior team to spend more time with clients and at units, and less time in the office."

To support this ambition, John Pain, who joined the firm in March as marketing director, is beefing up the marketing team so that Compass can gain a better understanding of what customers want, such as more grab-and-go services. The sales and training departments at Compass will also gain new recruits.

In recent months, the caterer has installed Nick Vadis as executive chef, to push culinary standards and improve product quality through the supply chain, as well as restructuring its fine-dining operation under the Restaurant Associates banner.

Compass Management changes in full

The changes will see five business directors reporting in to B&I managing director Graham Sims from 1 October.

Peter Bruce, who manages Compass's offshore activities for ESS UK, takes on additional responsibility for all other B&I contracts in Scotland and northern England, and Andy Harris becomes business director for the South.

Mike Malloy remains in Ireland, with responsibility for all contracts in the North and the Republic.

Caron Naylor, currently an operations director within B&I, is promoted to the role of business director responsible for all client accounts in the east of England.

Andy Barry goes from finance director of Compass's HEDG sector to overseeing B&I activities in the west of England.

Current B&I executive member Mike Green will take responsibility for driving best practice across the sector in a newly created role as business excellence director.

Within the Compass HEDG team, Steve Cenci takes up the new role of business director, care & healthcare, after five years as a senior manager in Medirest, and Tony Byrne, previously managing director for government services, takes on additional responsibility for Compass's education business.

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