Barclays appoints new head of F&B team

Barclays has announced that Steve Waller has been appointed head of the new food and beverages team.

Waller will lead a team of four relationship directors who will provide debt capital advice, roll-out and acquisition finance to publicly-quoted and privately-owned restaurants, brewers and licensed trade groups.

The team will incorporate the existing licensed trade team, which will still be headed by Geoff Newton and restaurants, under relationship director Bob Silk.

Waller has been at Barclays for 30 years and has worked for the Hospitality and Leisure team for the past six years. He has previously worked with a number of industry sectors and has wide experience in the corporate market.

"I am looking forward to leading Barclays' relationship with the food and beverages industries," Waller said. "It is particularly exciting to be dealing with these sectors at a time when there are fresh changes, challenges and opportunities for this buoyant marketplace."

Neil Parry, head of Hospitality and Leisure at Barclays, said: "Steve has an excellent track record as a relationship director in the Hospitality and Leisure team. He will make a great leader of food and beverages as we look to further develop our presence in that area of the hospitality market."

The move comes a week after the announcement that Rod Taylor was leaving Barclays' hotel team after 40 years at the company.

Tim Helliwell to head up Barclays hotel team >>

By Daniel Thomas

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