Stadium Experience is growing its voluntary Leadership Team, with the announcement of a new Chair of Public Catering.
Stadium Experience was established 15 years ago with the aim of promoting stadia as unique venues for conferences, meetings and events and sharing best practice. Today’s announcement will see Nav Daine, Levy UK retail specialist at Chelsea Football Club, head up a new arm of Stadium Experience, which now provides a forum for matchday public catering managers.
As part of his responsibilities, Nav will officially join the association’s Leadership Team and be the voice for public catering teams at stadium venues across the UK & Ireland. The Stadium Experience Leadership Team is a voluntary group of members who lead the strategic direction of the not-for-profit association, and can be joined by any member.
The team includes:
Collette Salmon – Sales Manager at Liverpool FC (Chair)
David Timms – Senior Business Development Manager at Chelsea FC (Vice-Chair)
Sue France – Head of Sales at Wigan Athletic FC (Treasurer)
Anna Tabor – Proactive Sales Manager at Aston Villa FC
Richard Cawton – Business Development Manager at Worcester Warriors RFC
Sam McGrath – Head of Sales & Event Planning at Southampton FC
Adam Pollington – Commercial Manager – Conference & Events at Tottenham Hotspur FC
Debbie Rigney – Marketing & PR Manager for Stadium Experience
Nav Daine – Head of Innovation, Retail & CSR (Levy UK) at Chelsea FC (Public Catering Chair)
Nav is widely recognised as one of the leading advocates of public catering trade within sports, leisure and hospitality industries. He brings with him 17 years of experience across several renowned nightclubs, stadia and event operations. Currently working as Head of Innovation, Retail & CSR for Levy UK at Chelsea Football Club, he is the catering marketing lead, a member of the social committee, and serves as a volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
His new role will be to determine how Stadium Experience can help, support and share operational knowledge with members, as well as develop the calendar of events for members, suppliers and sponsors, sharing innovative technological and operational advancements.
Nav has been at the forefront of moves to innovate public catering operations and processes whilst enhancing customer service and bringing in technology innovations. His work resulted in increased spend per head, better control of costs and ability to drive efficiency.
Commenting on his new position, Nav said: “Until recently, there was no real platform for public catering experts across such a vast spectrum of stadia to confer and share best practise. Stadium Experience allows for the gathering of greatly experienced and inquisitive minds to share learnings.
“At Levy, we firmly believe in the role food and drink plays in overall fan engagement and enjoyment. The concourses have started the journey to revolutionise their offer within the digital era. In comparison to the high street, the challenge within stadia is considerably more intense due to complex operational logistics. If you thought you were on own this is no longer the case – if you need to consult with likeminded individuals, you now have a wide pool of professionals to do so.”
Collette Salmon, Sales Manager at Liverpool Football Club, and overall Chair of Stadium Experience, added: “We are delighted to welcome Nav to our Leadership Team as the driver for public catering teams. Stadium Experience was established 15 years ago with the aim of sharing best practice and networking focusing purely on the conference and events side of the stadium business.
“We felt our tried and tested model could add value in other areas of the stadium business too, and as a result we have branched across to include the public catering management so they can benefit too. We are pleased that Nav has accepted this appointment, and know he will continue to contribute so much to the industry.”
For more details on joining Stadium Experience, please visit www.stadiumexperience.com/join-stadium-experience.
