Max Speakers Archive - lunch!
Karl Chessell
Karl Chessell is NIQ’s Director for Hospitality Operators, EMEA. He has worked in the eating and drinking out sector for over 25 years, leading teams at businesses including Experian and TransUnion. He and his team support the leading pub, bar, restaurant operators and trade bodies across the hospitality sector. They support board level decision making, using rich data and insight to understand market performance, analyse the key issues affecting the sector and highlight the key consumer trends to embrace.
27/07/2026
John Hutson
Biography: John Hutson, Chief Executive of JD Wetherspoon
John was born in July 1965 and is a graduate of Exeter University (1983-1986) and City University (1986-1987). He began his hospitality career with Taylor Walker, then part of Allied Domecq, as an area manager in London. He joined Wetherspoon in 1991, when the company operated around 20 pubs. He became Operations Director in 1994 and was appointed to the Board in 1996. He was appointed Managing Director in 1997 and has been Chief Executive since 2004. John is married to Susan and has three children.
Lee Holdstock
Benefiting from over 25 years of experience, Lee is a trusted expert in sustainability, responsible business, and organic trade who manages a range of trade and regulatory projects for Soil Association Certification – the UK’s biggest organic certifier. By helping hundreds of businesses build commercial capability and navigate the changing regulatory landscape, Lee is part of a team at Soil Association Certification that actively supports the growth of an organic market, now worth almost £4 Billion a year.
Simon Wright
Simon has worked in the world of sustainable food and drink for his entire career ,supporting manufacturers, retailers, NGOs and government. He drafted the UK’s very first organic legislation and I am currently working with Defra as part of EGOP (Expert Group on Organic Production) to help narrow the gap between UK and EU organic legislation. Simon also sits on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation and the Standards Board of the Soil Association. And he sells chocolate. More here www.ofplus.com
Caroline Ottoy
With nearly 30 years in the hospitality and retail industries, Caroline has a proven track record of scaling high-street restaurant brands across London and beyond. She began her career at ASK Italian when the business had just three sites, working closely with founders Adam and Sam Kaye to expand it nationwide. Together, they grew the portfolio to include Zizzi and other brands, navigating two venture capital buyouts.
Her passion for operations led her to Tasty, where she collaborated with the Kayes once more to expand the dim t and Wildwood brands. She played a hands-on role in everything from menu development to restaurant design, ultimately helping grow the estate to 60 restaurants, supported by a central production unit.
In 2018, Caroline transitioned into retail as Operations Director at Planet Organic, where her most challenging role was steering the brand and its stores successfully through the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2023, she joined WatchHouse as Managing Director. Since then, the estate has more than doubled, including the expansion of the business into New York City. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across the hospitality and retail sectors.
Dani Rowlands
Dani Rowlands is a Client Director at CGA by NIQ, specialising in the pub and hospitality sector. She works closely with operators across the market, from regional brewers to national pub cos, helping them translate data and insight into clear, practical actions. Her focus is on supporting performance and long-term growth, drawing on CGA’s market intelligence to guide decision-making and strengthen commercial outcomes
Simon Stenning
With a 30+ year career founded in operational management, with Forte, Hilton and Pret A Manger, Simon moved to a development & strategic marketing role with Compass Group, before developing Allegra Foodservice into the leading source of market intelligence, selling this to William Reed where Simon created and led MCA, merging the data, insight, news and events businesses.
Acknowledged as the leading analyst of the market and expert in making sense of all the data and insight available, Simon stepped down from MCA to launch Future Foodservice, providing unique foresight into the future.
Craig Sams
Craig Sams founded Seed Macrobiotic restaurant in 1967 which introduced foods like miso and brown rice to English diners. Co-founded Whole Earth Foods and with his wife Josephine Fairley founded Green & Black’s organic chocolate. Former chair of Soil Association and of Slow Food UK. Chair of Gusto Organic drinks, Chair of Carbon Gold Ltd