Coaching Inn Group appoints head of operations

The Coaching Inn Group has appointed Jill Matthews as head of operations to support the firm with its £20m expansion programme.

Matthews joins with 20 years' experience in the food and beverage industry, and was most recently head of operations at regional brewer SA Brain & Co.

Edward Walsh, group finance director, said: "We exceeded our growth targets last year, with profits doubling, turnover increasing to over £12m and three more high-quality coaching inns joining us. We are targeting six more acquisitions this year, together with further investment across our existing estate. Jill's appointment is vital to ensuring our teams continue to deliver a consistently high-quality customer experience as we grow."

Matthews added: "My mantra throughout my career has been guest obsession, and I've found a perfect partner for that with the Coaching Inn Group. The team here has earned a well-deserved reputation for high-quality customer service and innovative leadership in the coaching inn sector.

"I'm looking forward to working with Kevin Charity [founder and managing director] and the whole team to deliver on their ambitious growth plans across food and beverage and rooms. They are taking the casual-dining, coffee house and eatery market by storm and this is an area in which I have extensive experience and look forward to developing even further across their estate."

In October last year the Coaching Inn Group announced a double acquisition worth more than £5m when it purchased the Golden Fleece in Thirsk and the Feathers in Helmsley from Homfray Hotels. It operates in market towns across County Durham, Yorkshire, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Northampton and Powys.

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