Hospitality, catering and event management organisation, Smart Group, has announced the appointment of Jan Matthews to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
Matthews has worked in the hospitality industry for a number of years, including managing a team of 22,000 to deliver catering for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and still holds the position as Food and Beverage Advisor to the International Olympic Committee, travelling around the world advising on each and every Games.
Commenting on the appointment, Greg Lawson, CEO, Smart Group, said: “Jan and I have worked together in various guises for many years, including the London 2012 Olympic Games where we worked closely with Jan and her team as caterer for the Olympic Hospitality Centre. I am delighted that Jan is joining Smart Group’s Board of Directors; I’ve always held Jan in the highest regard and I’m looking forward to seeing our team reap the benefits of her vast experience, enthusiasm and passion for her work.”
Matthews commented: “I’m very excited to take on this new challenge with Smart Group. I’ve long admired the team for their attention to detail, genuine passion for the industry and for the fact that they are incredibly innovative in their approach. I’ll be working alongside the team to ensure Greg’s ambitious vision is realised as we look to grow the individual businesses within the Group whilst driving synergies behind the scenes. Ultimately my remit is to design the processes the business needs to ensure consistent delivery, allowing us to repeat that model as we grow.
