STERN CONSULTANCY - Key Persons

Chris has a strong background in operations, business development and catering consultancy across the Business & Industry (B&I) and Sports & Leisure sectors. Having worked for a number of operators in the market ranging from global caterers including Compass and Sodexo, through to boutique City operators including Vacherin and Bennett Hay, Chris has a great understanding of the market and their ability to meet our clients' requirements. Chris has experience of a wide variety of consultancy projects including foodservice strategy creation, competitive tendering and operational reviews. His specialism is benchmarking and tendering workplace catering services, delivering operational and financial improvements for our top corporate clients.

Over the last two decades, Chris has built a fanstastic reputation as an independent catering specialist trusted by clients and caterers alike for his insight, objectivity and expertise. Long standing clients include Cisco Systems, Microsoft, BNP Paribas, University of Northampton, Siemens and Aviva. As with all the Director of Stern Consultancy, Chris' background is as a caterer. Having gained a degree in Hotel & Catering Administration, Chris developed a career in contract catering initially with Sutcliffe Catering (now part of Compass), before joining High Table (now Avenance) where he managed 25 contracts in central London. As head of a small, specialist team of workplace catering consultants, Chris has involvement in every project adding a strategic dimension and ensures that we deliver on the client's project objectives. Since the company's inception in 1989, Chris has led the business into new sectors and international markets, developing strategic alliances in the real estate, facilities and design worlds to best meet our clients' requirements. Chris is a well-known, industry-leading figure, regularly invited to express his opinion in the trade press, as a lecturer on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and as a judge at the annual Cateys (Oscars for catering!).

Jane is able to draw on 30 years catering experience as an operator, business development professional and consultant that ensures the projects she manages result in achievable, practical solutions for our clients. Having previously held senior operations and sales positions within large contract catering companies including Compass, Sodexo and ISS, Jane's extensive business acumen is essential to ensuring that we remain objective and deliver accurate, impartial and achievable solutions for our clients. Jane has managed consultancy projects both in the UK and abroad, she retains an ongoing brief from numerous clients including; Microsoft, Accord Healthcare and American Express, who recognise the value Jane brings to their business.

Paul brings to the consultancy a deep and wide-ranging knowledge gained at senior management level. This brings significant benefits to our clients whether seeking to tender or review their catering services. Our clients achieve their goals through his consultative approach and proven track record of establishing the right solution, focusing on achieving each client's very specific objectives. His recent operational experience at a senior level adds an additional dimension to the ways in which we can add value to our clients, taking the lead in practical solutions for the challenges facing business today such as CSR, social enterprise and wellness. Paul has worked in contract catering since 1989 having previously spent 7 years in hotels. Having started in operations for Compass Group, Paul then spent the last 19 years with CH&CO becoming Regional Managing Director and latterly Commercial Director for Operations within the B&I sector.

Sara was a Director of Stern Consultancy for over 20 years and worked on an extensive range of projects in the UK and abroad. Sara developed a special interest in commercial and higher education catering contracts. Clients include Royal College of Surgeons, RIBA, Said Business School, Pentland Group, Kingston University and The European Medicines Agency (EMA). The experience previously gained working for Sutcliffe Catering (now part of Compass Group) both directly managing a number of large sites and on a group basis is invaluable in understanding the practical elements of effective contract management. The result of Sara's extensive operational expertise combined with her MBA, is that she brings to our business a very analytical, strategic dimension with a very grounded, hands-on approach that our clients truly value. Sara has now stepped away from a permanent role but continues to work with us on special projects.