Andrew Lynch, CEO of SSP, has been named one of the winners of the prestigious Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year London and South competition.
The judges cited the company’s impressive international growth and scale together with its strong track record of innovation in the food travel sector as among the most striking aspects of Andrew’s performance as an entrepreneur. Andrew will now go on to compete in the UK final of the event, which will take place in October.
Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award was established to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs and recognise their exceptional work. Now in its 27th year globally and 15th year in the UK, it covers more than 94% of the global economy. It is present in 140 cities in 50 countries and across the world in any one year there are more than 4,000 nominations and 500 awards, celebrating entrepreneurship in all its forms.
Andrew led SSP through the sale process from Compass in June 2006 and now heads the company under its private equity owner, EQT. Andrew was a Group Board Director of Compass Group PLC for 9 years from 1997 until September 2005, initially as Group Finance Director and from 2004 as CEO of SSP. He has been involved in the food service industry since 1988 when he joined the management buy-out team of Travellers Fare, the food retail arm of British Rail.