Former Compass UK Marketing Director John Pain: Looking ahead to new opportunities

Compass staff cuts affect 'relatively small number'

20th July 2010, 3:55pm

The world's biggest contract caterer and FM provider Compass has issued a statement following a round of staff redundancies in the UK operation.

The changes have followed the appointment of Ian Sarson as group managing director of Compass Group UK & Ireland in April to succeed Ian El-Mokadem.

Among the high profile victims of the cutbacks are UK Marketing Director John Pain and UK Corporate Affairs & Corporate Responsibility Director Allan Edwards.

"Compass has 50,000 permanent employees across the UK and Ireland. These recent changes have affected a relatively small number of our employees and have been made so that we can develop and grow the business and ensure Compass continues to deliver world class catering and support services throughout the UK and Ireland.

"The alignment of our central teams with each of the business sectors will provide us with the necessary agility to leverage our scale and to develop more flexible, innovative service offerings, tailored to each client."

Sarson himself was reported recently as saying the biggest change he has initiated involves combining parts of the Compass marketing, purchasing and supply chain operations to arrive at a new commercial function.

He conceded that this meant some people would be "leaving the business", but said this involved primarily those working on setting up the new commercial systems and their role was now over.

When Cost Sector spoke to Pain he said understood why the changes had been made and had fond memories of his time with the company.

Instead, he was looking forward to the opportunity to develop his particular business interests, including exploring opportunities to develop Western fast food concepts in Asia.

In April Pain collected the Cost Sector Catering Corporate Responsibility Award on behalf of Compass for initiatives involving Fairtrade products, induction of new staff, workplace healthy eating campaigns and charity fund-raising.

Related Articles:

• 17 Oct 2011 - Contract caterer Compass Group makes healthy step for consumers
• 02 Sep 2011 - Contract caterer Compass Group expands education offer
• 29 Jun 2011 - Compass Charity Ball raises over £100,000 for Cancer Research UK
• 21 Mar 2011 - Compass Group unveils new joint venture with Warwickshire County Cricket Club
• 11 Mar 2011 - Compass Group secures contracts to offer retail to hospitals
• 03 Mar 2011 - Compass Group strengthens Restaurant Associates business with new managing director
• 10 Feb 2011 - New appointment at Compass Group UK & Ireland
• 02 Sep 2010 - Compass team completes UK's first Advanced Apprenticeship in Facilities Management
• 20 Aug 2010 - Compass Group wins 15 year contract with Hatfield House and Park
• 18 Aug 2010 - Compass Group partners with The Barbican Centre to launch new Lakeside dining experience
• 05 Aug 2010 - Contract caterer Compass Group wins deal with Barbican Centre
• 23 Jul 2010 - Contract caterer Compass scoops two accolades at Brammy Awards
• 17 May 2010 - Eurest Services appoints new managing director

Click here to submit a comment!

Have your say!

To comment on this article, simply enter your name and email and send us your views. Please note that your comment will appear publicly below this article once it has been processed. For enquiries please email info@costsectorcatering.co.uk.