John Greenwood (executive)
Encyclopedia
John Robert Greenwood was a British
businessman and catering
executive
. He was chief executive of the RoadChef
chain of motorway service station
s from 2001 to 2004.
Born in Kent
in 1950 Greenwood attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
, he trained to be an accountant passing his exams on his third attempt. In 1975 he joined Balfour Beatty
, the engineering and construction group, and four years he later moved to South Africa
with his wife. He returned to Britain in 1982. In 1986 he joined Compass
, the global catering giant. Within three years he had made managing director of the healthcare division and built up its hospital portfolio to fifteen hospitals and three nursing homes. When the business was sold he moved to Compass’s food service operations. In 1998 he made head of Compass Contract Catering in Britain, Ireland
and South Africa. He left in 2000 and joined RoadChef.
Greenwood embarked on a £30 million improvement of facilities, overhauled the business’s management, culture, food and hygiene standards, and revived staff morale. He built the first toll-road service station, Norton Canes
. Greenwood also forged alliances with high street brands, notably Spar
, and his decision to introduce Costa Coffee
outlets to all RoadChef service areas. He stepped down from RoadChef in 2004 after suffering from motor neuron disease. He had been set to become the first Briton to receive a diaphragm pacemaker
, but he became too weak for the operation to go ahead.
Greenwood died on May 4, 2008.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and catering
Catering
Catering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
executive
Senior management
Senior management, executive management, or management team is generally a team of individuals at the highest level of organizational management who have the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a company or corporation, they hold specific executive powers conferred onto them with and by...
. He was chief executive of the RoadChef
RoadChef
Roadchef is a company which operates twenty motorway service areas in the UK. Behind Moto and Welcome Break, it is the third largest motorway service area operator .-History:...
chain of motorway service station
Motorway service area
In the UK motorway service areas, also known as service stations, are places where drivers can leave a motorway to refuel, rest, or take refreshments. The vast majority of motorway services in the UK are owned by one of three companies: Moto, Welcome Break and RoadChef. Extra are also developing a...
s from 2001 to 2004.
Born in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in 1950 Greenwood attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school for boys aged 4–19. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and of the Haileybury Group....
, he trained to be an accountant passing his exams on his third attempt. In 1975 he joined Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world...
, the engineering and construction group, and four years he later moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with his wife. He returned to Britain in 1982. In 1986 he joined Compass
Compass Group
Compass Group plc is a global contract foodservice and support services company headquartered near London, United Kingdom. It is the largest contract foodservice company in the world and has operations in over 50 countries...
, the global catering giant. Within three years he had made managing director of the healthcare division and built up its hospital portfolio to fifteen hospitals and three nursing homes. When the business was sold he moved to Compass’s food service operations. In 1998 he made head of Compass Contract Catering in Britain, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and South Africa. He left in 2000 and joined RoadChef.
Greenwood embarked on a £30 million improvement of facilities, overhauled the business’s management, culture, food and hygiene standards, and revived staff morale. He built the first toll-road service station, Norton Canes
Norton Canes
Norton Canes is a village and civil parish on the southern periphery of Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England. It is situated out of the centre of Cannock. At the 2001 census it had a population of 6,394...
. Greenwood also forged alliances with high street brands, notably Spar
Spar
In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a...
, and his decision to introduce Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is a British coffeehouse company founded in 1971 by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Since 1995 it has been a subsidiary of Whitbread, since when the company has grown to over...
outlets to all RoadChef service areas. He stepped down from RoadChef in 2004 after suffering from motor neuron disease. He had been set to become the first Briton to receive a diaphragm pacemaker
Pacemaker
An artificial pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart.Pacemaker may also refer to:-Medicine:...
, but he became too weak for the operation to go ahead.
Greenwood died on May 4, 2008.