New chairman for HOSPA as Barclays' Bob Silk takes over from Chris Upton

The Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) has appointed a new chairman with Bob Silk taking over from Chris Upton.

Following eight years in the role, Upton has decided to take a step back. Silk is relationship director with Barclays Bank's hospitality and leisure team, where he specialises in funding multi-site hotel, restaurant and pub businesses.

He said: "HOSPA is a fantastic organisation doing important work within hospitality. Its educational aspect, combined with its work as a voice for the sector sees it stand as one of the pillars of our industry. This is a reputation that the team at HOSPA and I will seek to build further, going forward."

Jane Pendlebury, chief executive of HOSPA, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Bob as new chairman. He'll bring a sense of renewed vigour to what we're trying to achieve as an association. Chris has been an enormously important asset to HOSPA and has done an excellent job in expanding our remit in recent years. I'd like to put on record our immense gratitude for his contribution."

Upton added: "My time as chairman has been a tremendously rewarding period and I'm very proud of the work we've been doing over the last eight years. I leave the role in extremely capable hands though, as Bob is a real expert in his field and will bring a fresh take to the association's approach, helping to maximise HOSPA's contribution to the efforts of the sector."