The Advisory Panel
Our Advisory Panel is made up of senior talent from the worlds of leisure, hospitality and private equity. A diverse team with deep sector knowledge and experience. Together, they will provide our clients with access to a wide network of highly valued relationships and an exceptional track record in:
Brand building, marketing and comms
Finance, operations, restructuring and real estate
Strategy, investment, growth and exit
They include:
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Ann Elliott
A Jedi Marketeer and former Whitbread operator
Founder and CEO of leading marketing and communications business Elliotts, the go to agency for the hospitality sector. Ann is an industry legend, a truly class act and an influencer with more than 10k LinkedIn followers. She is co-founder of Plan B, the mentoring platform dedicated to putting more women on boards within hospitality. Her ‘black book’ is one of the best in the business!
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Ben Merrifield
Operator, investor, deal-doer
Co-founder of Irish investment firm Causeway Capital, Ben has spent many years in the mid market ecosystem with a particular focus on the leisure, retail, hospitality and the health & fitness sectors. He blends cracking deal-doing skills from his time at advisory firm Hawkpoint and private equity fund GI Partners, with a commercial edge from board positions held in several pub and bar businesses including the 300 unit pub group Orchid.
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Simon Havers
The Money Man
Former Chair of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, the UK’s leading trade body for the private equity community. And previously top dog at one of Europe’s leading private equity funds. Simon has seen it all, done it all and got the t-shirt. He’s the smartest man we know; and we’ve come across a few.
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Charlie McVeigh
The Publican, the Investor, the serial Chair
Founder of iconic and award winning pub group Draft House which he grew to sixteen sites before exiting to Brewdog in 2018. Charlie is a champion for the sector and the inspiration behind #ProjectPint. He is also a serial investor and Chairperson, with a portfolio that includes The Breakfast Club, one of London’s best all day trader brands, and Butchies, the emerging fried chicken brand.
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Frank Bandura
A Wizard with numbers, the Gandalf of Finance
Former CFO of some of the most well know hospitality brands in the industry (Carluccio’s, Gaucho, All Star Lanes). Frank is a veteran of the finance world; and has been on the front line through the highs and lows of private equity ownership, UK and cross border expansion, debt fundraisings, IPOs and restructurings. If Carlsberg did CFOs, it would be Frank.
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Jyotin Sethi
A Smooth Operator with the Midas touch
Following a successful 10 year career in private equity with Barclays, Jyo is Co-Founder and CEO of JKS Restaurants. An award winning hospitality group with a unique portfolio of restaurant formats ranging from Michelin starred premium dining, fast casual and home delivery. JKS operates some of London’s best loved restaurant brands including Gymkhana, Trishna, Bao, Hoppers, Brigadiers, Lyle’s, Sabor, Kitchen Table amongst others as well as delivery brand Motu.
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Richard Hilton
The health & fitness Disruptor and former Mad Man (NYC advertising exec)
Serial deal doer, entrepreneur and founder of Gymbox, one of the UK’s hottest health & fitness brands. In his time at Gymbox, Richard raised debt, mezzanine and equity finance, bought out investors (twice!) and delivered great returns for his backers. Richard has great judgement, after all he’s used Tamweel on all his deals.