Novus Leisure is seeking a new Chief Executive after Steve Richards, 45, notified the Board sometime ago of his intention to step down following the sale of the business in 2012. A search for his successor is underway and Steve will be leaving during the summer.
As part of the ongoing succession process, Steve has made a number of high profile appointments over recent months which build on the strengths of the existing management team.
These include Tim Cullum who has just joined the Novus team as Chief Operating Officer from TGI Friday’s. At TGI, Tim was at the heart of that business’s transformation as its Operations Director for the past six years. Tim is well known as an engaging leader who puts the customer at the heart of all he does and Novus are delighted to have made such a high quality addition to its Board. Prior to joining TGI Friday’s, Tim spent a number of years in senior roles at Mitchells & Butlers.
Similarly, Gregor Grant was appointed as Finance Director a few months ago to help Novus in its next stage of development. Gregor’s career has been mainly focused on the leisure sector, where he has played a key part in a number of companies including Morrell’s of Oxford, Eldridge Pope and Fuddruckers Inc in the USA.
Over the last 12 months, Novus has concentrated on strengthening its USP of pre-booked sales via its digital channel and raising again its customer proposition. This has involved the repositioning of 12 of its existing sites via an extensive capital investment programme, including the hugely successful launch of its Lewis & Clarke rollout model at the Gable in the City.
In addition, the estate has been enhanced through the sale of a number of targeted high value, non-core, single site disposals. Furthermore, the programme to refresh its ‘best in class’ digital and CRM platform, following 18 months of development and £2m of investment capital, is just months from completion.
John Kelly, Chairman said:
“On behalf of the Board we would like to extend our gratitude to Steve for his immense contribution to building Novus into the market leading business which it represents today. He has overseen its transformation to central London’s premier bar and restaurant business and pioneered the pre-booked sales model which is the Group’s USP.”
Steve Richards, Chief Executive said:
“Having led the business since it was founded some eight years ago and successfully steered the business through the recent £100m buyout, it is the right time for me to seek a new challenge and hand the reins over. The team at Novus have truly transformed the business over the last few years and have succeeded in dominating the central London premium bar market by constant product innovation and building a market leading digital platform in latenightlondon.co.uk.”