PSL - THE FOOD PROFESSIONALS

About Us - The Team

As a business focused on providing excellent advice and seamless service, we have worked hard to build an effective and experienced team over the last 16 years. Built upon an exceptionally strong core management team, over time PSL have nurtured and developed a team of 60 specialist personnel, drawn from a variety of professional backgrounds including: procurement, supply chain, operations and finance. The operational team is supported by additional personnel in finance, human resources, IT and administrative roles.

Paul Hipps, Non-Exec Chairman

Formerly Managing Partner and then Senior Partner in the accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward, Paul joined PSL in a non executive role in 2002 and has played an important part in developing the company's strategic planning capability ever since.

Ivan Shenkman, Managing Director

Ivan founded specialist food wholesale company, London Larder, in 1980, which he ran for 12 years before selling it to Brakes in 1992. Ivan went on to found PSL which he continues to run today, bringing to bear his extensive sourcing and foodservice expertise. He has a varied role in the company focusing on winning new business, as well as ensuring that all existing clients continue to benefit from the best service PSL has to offer.

Daniel Wilson, Operations Director

Having gained a degree in politics, Daniel worked in a number of prestigious hotels across Europe including Buhlerhohe Schlosshotel, Arabella Grand Hotel and Wyck Hill House Hotel. He went on to join Hendon Hall where he was F&B Manager, and then Operations Manager before joining PSL in 1999 as Operations Controller in London. Currently Daniel is PSL's Operations Director, where he is responsible for managing and delivering PSL's services to all our UK clients. He has an in-depth knowledge of food policy gained from his Masters in Food Policy (which he studied for under Professor Tim Lang, the cited originator of the phrase 'food miles' and leading academic who advises DEFRA, the FSA and UNESCO). Daniel’s passion for the foodservice industry combined with his operational knowledge makes him a unique and valuable resource within PSL.

Campbell Askwith, Commercial Director

With a strong background in Catering & Hotel, Food & Beverage and Depot Management, as well as experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Campbell joined PSL in 1993 at its conception (from London Larder). He performed a number of roles before he was made an Executive Director in 1998 and is now Commercial Director. As Commercial Director his main focus is on maintaining the exceptional level of service PSL provides to its clients, whilst also carrying out a number of internal senior management functions.

Matt Tough, Sales and Marketing Director

Having worked for several specialist food suppliers on the sales side, Matt joined PSL soon after its inception in 1993, and since then has held various roles within the company, including Operations Manager and Key Accounts Manager, giving him a detailed understanding of all aspects of the business. Matt is now responsible for Sales and Marketing for PSL and works closely with the Operations and Purchasing team to ensure all new business is set up professionally and handed over seamlessly to the operations teams.

Simon Newth, Finance Director

Oxford graduate Simon started his career as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse. He then went on to hold a number of prestigious Finance Director roles with companies such as Burton Group Financial Services, Russell & Brand and Marriott Management Services, before joining PSL in 1999. As Finance Director he is currently enjoying the challenges offered by PSL as a successful and growing business. This includes providing financial reporting and control systems as well as providing the necessary support to other PSL departments.

Karen Smalley, Financial Controller

Graduating from Oxford with a degree in Oriental Studies, Karen decided to pursue her career in the hospitality industry. She worked with a number of well know London establishments - The New Connaught Rooms, and The Rembrandt Hotel Knightsbridge in a Banqueting management role, before becoming interested in the financial side of the business and joined Le Meridien Piccadilly in F & B cost control. She moved on from there to Purchasing Manager at The Metropole. She pursued studies in both Accountancy and Purchasing and joined PSL in 1996 as a food price analyst. She moved to her current role of Financial Controller after 2 years. She continued her studies and gained a Masters degree in Finance and Information Management from Westminster University. She has developed the accounts team to its current level and supervises the day to day work of its 4 team members.

Stephen Nash, National Operations Manager

Stephen worked in the Catering Industry as a chef for 24 years before joining PSL in 2002. As a chef he worked at several well established and respected hotels in the UK and Australia, including Le Caprice, Café du Jardin, Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove and the Victoria Art Center. He was also the official chef for the 2002 European Ryder Cup Team, and Raymond Blanc's Executive chef for 4 ½ years, during which time Stephen opened 3 Le Petit Blanc Restaurants. He joined PSL in 2002 to become National Operations Manager looking after a team of 20 operations managers - now increased to 27. Stephen's role is to ensure that all the operations staff are managed, trained and equipped to help the clients achieve their lowest possible food costs without impacting quality.

David Barton, Director of Purchasing

Before joining PSL in 2008, David was previously a Director and major shareholder in the J S Barton Group, a UK based food wholesaler with an annual turnover at its height of £55 million, which became part of the 3663 group in 2004. With over 20 years experience dealing in the meat industry as well as procuring fresh produce, cheese, dairy and Italian fine foods through sub divisions of his old business, David has his finger on the pulse of the meat and produce market. His current role at PSL is to oversee and assist PSL's buyers and analysts, ensuring that prices are kept low whilst quality and service remain competitive.

Jerry Davies, Director Key Accounts

Jerry has 30 years experience in the operations side of the foodservice industry, including a full apprenticeship at London's Royal Lancaster and a number of prestigious Executive Chef Positions in Turkey and at Soneva Gili in the Maldives and most recently as Executive Chef at Ashdown Park Hotel. Jerry was a client of PSL for over 12 years, and so understands the business from both sides. He joined PSL in 2008 as Key Account Director and is responsible for managing many of PSL's key accounts within the UK.

Iain Shaw, Director Key Accounts

After leaving college Iain worked for the Roux Bros at Le Gavroche and then the Chester Grosvenor and Four Season's London. During his time at the Four Season's Iain gained second place in the coverted Roux Bros scholarship. After a brief time in the food service industry working for a specialist food wholesaler and fish merchant Iain joined PSL in 1993 soon after it's conception. Having held various roles within the company Iain is now a Director of Key Accounts and responsible for managing PSL's group and independent clients.

Richard Judge, General Manager Ireland

Richard's background as a successful chef across Europe, working in a range of food environments from contract catering to fine dining in country house hotels, led him to work with PSL in 1996 whilst at Pierre Victoire. Having worked with PSL for 12 months, Richard joined as an Operations Manager and then moved on to become Regional Operations Manager for UK East. After a sabbatical in Australia he returned to PSL, and was tasked with setting up PSL's Dublin office, which after 8 years now has a client base of 50 sites and purchase value in excess of €35million pa in Ireland.

Chris Stephens, Key Account Manager

Chris has worked in the Catering Industry as a chef for 15 years. He has worked at several well established and respected hotels in the UK, including Corse Lawn House under, "Baba Hine" and Buckland Manor. Before joining PSL in 1999 Chris achieved the accolade of 3 AA Rosettes for his culinary skills. In the 12 years with PSL, Chris has become an integral part of the London market and in 2006 he was appointed as Key Account Manager for 5 Star operations.

Simon Gurney, Key Account Manager

Simon qualified in Hotel Management in 1987 before working in the hotel sector all over Europe, this was followed by Executive Chef roles in both the volume C & B and Health Spa sectors. Becoming one of PSL's very first clients in 1994, he joined the company in 1996 and has worked in PSL operations as a Key Account Manager across the south of England since then. Primarily based in London, Simon has gained a huge wealth of experience and knowledge which has enabled him to successfully develop and maintain successful partnership with a large range of PSL clients over the past 15 years.

Richard King, Key Account Manager

After a successful college enrolment in which Richard won the highly acclaimed Nestle Toque D'or competition, Richard went on to work in the catering industry as a chef for 12 years. In this time he enjoyed executive chef positions in a number of well respected large 4 star properties in the UK as well as gaining experience in prestigious large scale event catering. Richard joined PSL in 2003 and has worked in PSL operations throughout the south west and manages many PSL key accounts. Richard's role is to ensure a smooth implementation is achieved with new PSL clients as well as managing the successful continued delivery of the PSL service to a range of existing Group and Independent clients.

Gordon Turner, Business Development Manager

Starting his career as a chef and latterly a back of house manager working for one of the UK's largest hotel chains, Gordon went on to join PSL in 2001 as an Operations Manager. Initially based in central London and working with some of the country's most prestigious hotels, he developed a great understanding of PSL's client base and how to deliver the maximum possible margin whilst maintaining or improving the quality. Gordon has since worked in PSL's client base in Scotland, the Channel Islands, Ireland and the home counties, giving him a unique insight into supplier networks, and meeting the varying expectations of numerous clients. In 2011 Gordon took the position of Business Development Manager for PSL, and his focus is on developing new business from independent hotels, small to medium hotel groups, restaurants and pubs.

Simon Hartnell, Business Development Manager

After a twenty year career in commercial property, in which he rose to become a Director of leading UK real estate advisor Nelson Bakewell, Simon joined PSL in 2009 to work in the sales and marketing team. During his time as a surveyor Simon managed the property requirements of numerous hotels, restaurants and clubs. Simon has been charged with helping to develop new business across all sectors but with a focus on Independent Schools, Universities, Contract and Event Caterers and London Clubs.

Janice Lee, Human Resources Business Partner

Janice has worked in Hospitality most of her career. Starting out working in Front Office & Guest Services before moving into Human Resources, working for International Hotel Groups including The Sheraton and Hilton. She became Personnel Manager at the Carlton Tower Hotel (then Hyatt), on to The Hyatt Regency in Birmingham as Director of Human Resources where she established the Human Resources function at the Hotel which led to the team there being awarded a Human Resources Excellence Award with Hyatt International - Europe, Africa and Middle East. Progressing to Human Resources Director at the May Fair Inter-Continental and then the two 6 Continents Hotels in Mayfair before joining PSL in January 2001 and has since studied for a Masters Degree and successfully overseen the PSL Best Companies project which lead to the Company being recognised by the Sunday Times top 100 Best Small Companies to work for.