The ALMR appoints Bob Ivell as president

Ivell is also chairman of Carpetright and a non-executive director at Britvic and Charles Wells.

'Uniting voice'

Commenting on the appointment, Ivell said: “The ALMR has emerged as a uniting voice for our industry, representing businesses big and small.  It successfully spans the spectrum of hospitality with over 200 pub, restaurant, bar and nightclub companies as members, and provides an essential voice to government, to MPs and to political influencers. 

“The membership is strong and in our CEO, Kate Nicholls, we have expert leadership.  I’m looking forward to helping the association promote our industry’s growth agenda.”

Background

Ivell also served as the long-term executive chairman at Scottish & Newcastle Retail and chairman at David Lloyd Leisure. He has sat on the boards of public companies The Restaurant Group and Aga Rangemaster Group.

Steve Richards, chairman of the ALMR, said: “I am delighted Bob Ivell has joined the ALMR board as our president. He is one of the sector’s most respected leaders, and the depth of his experience makes him a great ambassador for our industry. 

“His commitment reflects the importance of the ALMR, and the role it plays in taking business-critical messages to government.”  

Management

The appointment follows a number of other recent appointments. In 2015, both Robin Rowland of YO! Sushi and Peter Marks of Deltic Group joined the ALMR’s management board. 

CEO Kate Nicholls said: “I am delighted to welcome Bob to our team. As an organisation we are expanding rapidly, driven by a clear and compelling need for companies to come together as one voice and help government understand that the hospitality industry is an engine of growth that needs a free, fair and flexible marketplace in which to operate.

“Our members’ businesses are highly responsive to, and easily impacted by, increasing taxation and regulatory change, in its many forms. It is, therefore, vital that we continue to build and fortify our links with Whitehall, at all levels, and Bob’s contribution will prove invaluable.”

The ALMR

The ALMR represents more than 200 companies across pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs, with member companies together operating more than 22,000 outlets and employing 650,000 people. 

Companies represented by the ALMR vary in size, from small multiple operators to national companies. 

Member companies include Azzurri Restaurants, Beds & Bars, Carluccio’s, Casual Dining Group, Côte, Deltic Group, Ed’s Easy Diner, Glendola Leisure, JD Wetherspoon PLC, K10, Living Ventures, Mitchells & Butlers, Novus Leisure, Oakman Inns & Restaurants, Revolution Bar Group, Stonegate Pub Company, TGI Friday’s, Thorley Taverns, Tokyo Industries, YO! Sushi and Yummy Pub Company. 

The ALMR membership also includes 180 additional supplier companies.