Richard’s background has been in hospitality since he started his own catering company in 1986, Richard Groves Catering & Events (RGC&E), working in prestigious Central London venues and private houses. Following a merger with two of his clients, Business Pursuits and the Ultimate Experience, and the subsequent rebranding of RGC&E to create food and party design, he became a founding director of the Concerto Group, which ultimately became the UK’s leading event and venue management and catering group turning over in excess of £35 million per annum which was sold to CH&Co in 2015.
Joining Smart Group in 2015, Richard brought special event and London venue caterer Moving Venue into the Group, which grew their turnover from £4,000,000 to £11,000,000 in 5 years and won sole catering contracts at, amongst others, Illuminate at The Science Museum, Landing 42 and Magazine London, together with catering contracts at the Hampton Court Music Festival, Henley Festival and 6 Day Cycling at the London Velodrome.
Richard is a past President of the International Special Event Society, and a partner in hospitality and events industry expert advisors, Kershaw Partners.
He is working with his alma mater – Oxford Brookes University, on their student mentoring programme.
