Mitie, the FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing company, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alan Russell as director of operations for its catering business, Gather & Gather, in Ireland.
An experienced catering specialist, who started his career as a chef in the hotel trade some 25 years ago, Alan has enjoyed a long and successful career in the Irish market.
Prior to joining Mitie, Alan held senior roles at Sodexo, and more recently Compass Group where he was Head of Operations for Business and Industry and Healthcare in Ireland managing over €35m of business.
Alan will be responsible for managing Mitie’s existing Irish catering portfolio, as well as growing the Gather & Gather brand in Ireland over the course of 2014.
Mitie’s catering business re-launched its new trading identity, Gather & Gather, in 2013.
The business has more than trebled its turnover over the past two years through new contract wins and the acquisition of award winning hospitality company CreativEvents, making it the fastest growing caterer in the UK and Ireland.
Allister Richards, managing director of Gather & Gather said:
“This is a fantastic appointment for Gather & Gather and I’m delighted to have such an experienced and successful operations director as part of the team. I’m excited about what we can achieve in Ireland as we look to expand the business.”
Alan Russell said:
“I’m really excited about working with this team to develop the Irish business. Great food, a strong brand, operational flair and creativity, and an entrepreneurial culture - all backed up by a FTSE 250 parent company - isn’t a combination that comes along every day. I believe it’s just what the market has been waiting for.”
Operating throughout the UK, Gather & Gather focuses on providing an agile, flexible and contemporary service either as a standalone caterer or as part of an integrated facilities management model through the wider Mitie group.
Mitie has been operating in Ireland since 2010, growing from 60 to over 1,200 people. Catering has been the most recent addition to Mitie’s services in the region.
For more information, please contact:
Richard Raven, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
M: +44 (0)7824 088 434
E: richard.raven@gatherandgather.com
