Francis Patton

Francis has over 30 years’ experience of the hospitality sector and combines his teaching responsibilities with a series of Non-Executive roles and Directorships for organisations within the sector. At present he teaches Strategy and Finance at Undergraduate and Post graduate and is heavily involved with EIG and CPD.

Francis started life with Joshua Tetley in Leeds and worked at Area Manager, General Manager, Commercial Director and Customer Services Director level within Allied Breweries and Punch Taverns. From 1999 to 2007 he was on the Executive Board of Punch Taverns involved in developing the company’s strategy working closely with Private Equity and involved in the flotation of the business. This has developed his knowledge and experience in the areas of Leadership, Management, Strategy, Finance and Customer Service.

Francis left Punch at the end of 2007 and since then has held Non-Executive roles with SIBA (Small Independent Brewers Association) where he is Chair of the Executive, Cask Marque where he is Chairman, the British Institute of Innkeepers where he is an Industry Expert and Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust where he is Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director. This has helped develop further expertise in strategy and finance as well as governance. He is also a Director and part owner of a PR company within the Hospitality sector.

Francis was a guest lecturer from 2005 to 2007 and then joined Leeds Beckett University as a part time lecturer. He is also heavily involved in the universities extra income generation and continued professional development working with companies such as JD Wetherspoon, Greene King, Punch Taverns, New River Retail to name a few. His interests include company strategy, company finance, customer service, multi-unit management, CPD development, delivery and evaluation in the hospitality sector and the role of the pub in society.