Zoe Watts joins Vacherin as the specialist London caterer completes its new senior team structure
London-based specialist caterer Vacherin has appointed the highly accomplished and experienced catering, events and hospitality expert Zoe Watts as its new Director, Commercial. She replaces Vacherin Co-owner Phil Roker who becomes Managing Director, and her appointment completes the senior team restructure that Vacherin outlined six months ago.
Zoe will lead all sales, marketing, and internal and external communications at Vacherin and her priority is to gear up for a new era of growth – having seen sales jump at the business by more than one third in the last three years. Mark Philpott now becomes Chairman, while Clive Hetherington remains as Executive Finance Director – having recruited Sam Feenan into the new post of Head of Finance, Purchasing & Administration. The company remains 100% owned by Philpott, Hetherington and Roker.
Before joining Vacherin Zoe held senior catering, operations and events positions in contract catering and at prestigious venues such as The Natural History Museum, four Tate Museums (Modern, Britain, Liverpool and St Ives), and The Royal Society of Arts. She has particular expertise in maximising sales and profit margins, developing marketing plans and directing the positioning of catering offers for businesses.
Zoe aims to maintain Vacherin’s commitment to marry financial and sustainability success. In March Vacherin reported that turnover had risen by 8.8% and broken the £15m barrier for the first time – up 38% in the last three years. At the same time Vacherin has made sustainability a core commitment since its formation in 2002 and has matched 13 years’ of unbroken financial growth by deepening this commitment year after year.
Zoe Watts: “I love everything about Vacherin. It’s an honour to be joining a business that is setting a pace that competitors need to match. I can’t wait to get started.”
Phil Roker: “Zoe completes our new senior team, so this is an exciting time for us. She will ensure we maintain the highest service standards; have best-in-class societal and environmental policies; and enjoy commercial success all at the same time.”
Outside of work Zoe is a keen distance runner; camping enthusiast; and ambitious cook. Her ‘signature dish’ is: “paella for about 20 people – 100% prepared; cooked over fire; eaten and celebrated out of doors.”