Meet the experts

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Lesley Reynolds, chief executive, Portfolio International Established in 1985, Portfolio International is a large recruitment consultancy with expertise in the hotel, catering and leisure industries. Lesley joined the company in February 1991 as an associate director, becoming managing director later that year. She started her career in managerial posts with companies such as Le Meridien, eventually forming her own company LHA, before joining Portfolio. She became chief executive in 2003.


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Ian Hall, director of human resources, Aramark Ian joined food service giant Aramark in April 2000, coming out of retirement at the request of chief executive Bill Toner. Ian has worked in personnel since joining British Steel in 1964. He moved to Gardner Merchant in 1969, eventually becoming its personnel director in 1978. From there he became group human resources director at Sodexho following the buy out of Gardner Merchant.

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Jane Riches, national programmes manager, Springboard UK Springboard UK is a national organisation dedicated to promoting career opportunities within hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism. Jane joined in April 1999 following a Hospitality degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. She has also worked for Hilton UK, Style Conferences, Cosmos Holidays and the Paramount Group in the UK. Jane recently won the Hotel and Catering Personnel and Training Award for establishing links with colleges.


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Alison Clarke, human resources director, Whitbread Restaurants Alison joined Whitbread in 1999 as HR director for Pelican, before becoming HR director for Brewers Fayre and organisation development director for restaurants in 2000. She became HR director for Whitbread Restaurants in October 2001. Â


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Kim Parish, human resources director, Scottish & Newcastle Retail Kim has held this role since February 1998, formerly working within S&N as management development and training director and business development director. In her current role, Kim is responsible for HR strategy and implementation across 2,300 pubs, restaurants and hotels in the UK, including 45,000 employees.

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David Goldfarb, director, MaydayExec David has worked at recruitment firm Mayday since 1987, following nine years in the hospitality industry. He began his career as a trainee manager in a four-star country house hotel. He then moved into the food service sector in London where he became a group general manager before moving to Mayday.

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Julian Bradwell, human resources director, Greene King Pub Company Julian has been with Greene King since March 2000. He previously spent 13 years working in sales at United Biscuits and Heinz. Julian had already decided that he wanted to move into human resources before he was approached by Greene King's managing director. Â

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Hannah Bailey, chief operating officer, Chess Partnership Hannah joined recruitment consultants Chess Partnership in 2000. She has a degree in hotel management and, after graduating, she worked in F&B at Forte Hotels. In 2001 Hannah won an Acorn Award for her services to the industry.

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Michael Moor, managing director, Chef Centre Michael started his career by joining a trainee management course with Esso Hotels. This was followed by progressive managerial positions at hotels in London and Manchester. He has more than 25 years' experience in recruitment, having joined recruitment consultancy Chef Centre in 1978. He was made a director of the company in 1982.

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Nick Gourley, UK sales director, Blue Arrow Catering Nick started his career in hospitality with Whitbread Country Club Hotels and completed the company's management development programme. He joined recruitment consultancy Blue Arrow in 1989 as a recruitment consultant and is now UK sales director for the catering division.