Francis Patton's Profile

Francis has worked in the hospitality sector for over 30 years.  He started as a graduate trainee with Joshua Tetley, part of Allied Breweries, in 1985 and worked his way up through the various incarnations of the company as an area manager, general manager and finally commercial director for Vanguard Pubs and Restaurants, part of Allied Domecq Inns.  In 1999 the pub business of Allied Domecq was bough by Punch Taverns and Francis became the Commercial Director of Punch Taverns as a Board member.  He held that role until 2004 when the role was split into Commercial Director and Customer Service Director (both Board roles) and Francis took the Customer Service role.

Francis retired from Punch at the end of 2007 but moved into a series of Non Executive roles including being the Vice Chair and SID for Barnsley Hospital NHSFT, the Chair of Barnsley Facility Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Barnsley Hospital NHS FT as well as starting his own PR business with some colleagues and becoming a part time lecturer at Leeds Beckett University,

Francis is Non-Executive DChair of the commercial arm of SIBA, is chair of Cask Marque, an accreditation company for quality beer, is a trade advisor for the BII, is Vice Chair and is part owner and director of Fleet Street Communications, one of the top PR agencies in the Hospitality and Leisure sector.

Francis has extensive experience in corporate strategy, finance, customer services, public relations and corporate lobbying.