The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) has today announced the appointment of Phil Rees-Jones to the position of TUCO Chairman.
Phil will hold the role for a period of four years and will be responsible for the strategic leadership of TUCO’s membership.
Phil joined the TUCO board in 2014 to lead on governance and assist in determining a research strategy. In September 2016 he became the very first Vice-Chair of TUCO, before succeeding former chair Matthew White as Chair.
TUCO CEO Mike Haslin commented, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Phil to the position of chairman. He enters the role at an extremely difficult and uncertain time, but his industry-leading experience will ensure TUCO and its members are fit for the future.”
Rees-Jones’s immediate focus is to help members with a short-medium term Covid recovery strategy. He will deliver a roadmap to help members operate differently and safely during Covid whilst under continuing downward financial pressure.
Rees-Jones joined the university sector in 2003 with more than 15 years’ experience in catering, hospitality and retail. Alongside his voluntary role with TUCO, Rees-Jones is Deputy Director of Estates & Campus Facilities for Cardiff University. Within that role, Phil is responsible for the commercially run units of campus services.
TUCO is the leading membership organisation for public sector caterers and is a specialist procurement agent supporting multiple sectors across the public sector in purchasing hospitality commodities. It has also fast become a first-choice provider for learning and development within the catering and hospitality sector.
Previous chair Matthew White steps down with immediate effect from both TUCO chairmanship and the TUCO board. He continues in his role as Director of Catering, Hotel and Conferencing at The University of Reading.