Alastair Storey FIH, the respected and influential foodservice and hospitality leader, is to become the new president of the Institute of Hospitality.
Storey is the chairman and CEO of WSH, a company with six brands – BaxterStorey, Benugo, Holroyd Howe, Caterlink, Searcys and Portico. After a highly successful career with Sutcliffe, latterly as CEO, Storey founded Wilson Storey in 2000, which then became BaxterStorey. The company has grown steadily to become the third largest foodservice player in the UK with annual sales of more than £600m and over 1,800 employees. In 2012, Storey was ranked as the most influential person in the hospitality industry by The Caterer.
As the new president of the Institute of Hospitality, Storey will act as an ambassador, help to shape Institute strategy and participate in its calendar of events.
Storey says: “We’re very supportive of the Institute of Hospitality generally. We use their qualifications which are externally recognised and that makes them appealing for individuals and for the industry.”
“It’s vital that we encourage people to join our industry and once they are here, develop their careers with quality training and qualifications. The Institute provides a great vehicle to do just that, as well as a good forum for communication, camaraderie and finding out what’s going on. It is the Institute for managers in our industry and as such it’s really important to make sure it’s promoted.”
Institute of Hospitality chief executive Peter Ducker FIH, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Alastair to his distinguished new role with us. We hold exactly the same values and goals: promoting career-long learning and development and attracting new talent into our wonderful industry. We know he will make a most valuable contribution to the Institute’s work.”
The Institute of Hospitality and BaxterStorey have worked closely together for many years. BaxterStorey operates a number of Academies that train hundreds of employees each year. Its Leadership Academy delivers the Institute of Hospitality Level 3 Management Diploma. BaxterStorey is unique as the only non-Further Education establishment accredited to run Institute of Hospitality programmes from its own premises.
Storey officially assumes his new position at the Institute of Hospitality’s Annual General Meeting on 13 June 2016, taking place at the newly refurbished Westminster Kingsway College. Storey takes over the post from outgoing president Sir David Michels FIH.