This week's London appointments: Featuring Social Pantry, Ampa & Acumentice

This week’s round-up of London appointments includes Social Pantry, Ampa & Acumentice. Read on to find out more…

James Spragg, Social Pantry

Social Pantry, the leading sustainable events and workplace caterer, has announced the appointment of a new non-executive chairman, James Spragg. Spragg will work closely with CEO and founder, Alex Head, to accelerate the growth of the business, whilst maintaining its core values across sustainability and ex-offender hiring.

The new appointment comes as Social Pantry’s purpose-led and luxury offering gathers momentum. Spragg joins with over 25 years of experience working with public and private equity companies across the hospitality sector.

Prior to joining Social Pantry, Spragg completed a six-year stint at Casual Dining Group, serving as CEO from 2019-2021, where he oversaw 250 UK restaurants including Bella Italia, Café Rouge, and Las Iguanas. In 2018, he also joined premium pub-restaurant group, Cambscuisine, where he’s served as non-executive chairman since 2021.

James Spragg, new non-executive chairman at Social Pantry, comments: “I am delighted to join such a progressive company that is growing fast. Social Pantry is at an exciting point in its growth journey, with plans to achieve its B-Corp accreditation and a partnership with Olio now under its belt. I look forward to working together to deliver on its next phase of development”.

Alex Head, CEO and founder of Social Pantry, comments: “With a background growing some of the UK’s leading restaurants and hospitality brands, James is uniquely placed to take Social Pantry to the next level. I could not be happier to begin working with him and look forward to unleashing exciting growth across our event and workplace catering.”

Simon Macklen, Rhea Jave & Shaun Zulafqar, Ampa

Legal and professional services group Ampa has announced 30 promotions, including three in London across its Shakespeare Martineau, Lime Solicitors and Marrons brands.

Socio-economics expert Simon Macklen, of Marrons, has been promoted to partner, while clinical negligence expert Rhea Javed, of Lime Solicitors, has been promoted to associate. Within the Shakespeare Martineau brand, Shaun Zulafqar has been promoted to senior company secretary.

Rhea Javed works across a range of clinical disciplines including ophthalmology, neurology, oncology, plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, cardiology, gynaecology, obstetrics, radiology, emergency medicine and general practice. She also specialises in product liability claims.

Shaun supports various client companies, including main market and AIM-listed businesses, technology start-ups and SMEs. He has more than seven years’ experience and is responsible for business development, project management and corporate governance advisory work.

Victoria Tester, managing director at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “We are committed to the continued investment and development of our people in the south and growing our teams across London, empowering them to provide excellent customer service to clients regionally and nationally.”

Stephen Hall, Acumentice

London-based healthcare management consultancy Acumentice has appointed a director of Consulting Services to support the firm’s ambitious growth and diversification plans. Former director of Performance & Planning at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Stephen Hall, has been appointed to join the healthcare management consultancy.

Stephen has over 22 years of experience working in the NHS, including working at director level for the last eight years in a mixture of medium and large complex trusts.

Hall’s extensive skills and knowledge in overseeing and delivering targets, including referral to treatment, cancer, and diagnostic waiting times, will strengthen Acumentice’s service offering in supporting the NHS and its ongoing challenges and pressures.

Managing director and founder of Acumentice, Karina Malhotra, commented on the appointment, “We are so pleased to welcome Stephen to our fast-growing team. His role will see him leading on consulting services and associated business development, which will free up some of my time to focus on our diversification, to support the NHS in additional ways.

Stephen added: “I am delighted to be taking up the director of consulting services position at Acumentice, and I am excited to join a highly skilled healthcare management consultancy that prides itself on delivering expert advice and support to healthcare.”

Would you like to see your businesses new hires or promotions featured in the Bdaily appointments news?

Send your submissions to: editor@bdaily.co.uk with ‘APPOINTMENT:’ In the subject.

Submissions should:

  • include the name and job title of the appointee and the business name
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Appointments are published entirely at the discretion of the Bdaily team. Submission does not guarantee publication.


By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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