Stapleford Park hotel loses another general manager

Rupert Elliott has left his role as general manager of Stapleford Park in Melton Mowbray to head up the team at Bibury Court Hotel in the Cotswolds, Caterersearch can reveal.

Elliott, who only joined Stapleford Park in July last year, is the third general manager to leave the country house hotel within 16 months, joining Philip Newman-Hall, formerly of Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, and Ken Sharpe as former employees.

He would not be drawn on the reasons for his departure from Stapleford but said of his new appointment: "I'm very excited to be joining Bibury Court, which has a great deal of latent recognition and an owner dedicated to putting it on a new level with me."

Elliott, who said he aimed is to raise the hotel from a three black-star to red-star status, has worked at the Savoy Group, the QE2, Buckingham Palace, Hambleton Hall and opened Hart's hotel and restaurant in Nottingham.

• Meanwhile, Sir David Michels, the former chief executive of Hilton, is thought to be on the shortlist to become the next chairman of National Express, the bus and train operator. Michels, who left Hilton in 2006, is now one of the UK's most prolific non-executive directors, with board positions at companies including Jumeirah, British Land Company, EasyJet and Marks & Spencer.

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By Emily Manson

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