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Steve Smith (left) is the first group general manager of The Chestnut Group.

Smith has over 20 years of experience working in the catering and hospitality industry with his most recent position seeing him look after the St. Edmundsbury Collection group of five contracts for Sodexo Prestige.

Responsibilities for Smith will include the day-to-day operational running of the group's individual busineses, although he will not be exclusive to any one business. Smith will also be responsible for developing strategy, implementing change and providing practical operational support at unit level.

Smith said: “It is always exciting to be a “first” and in at the beginning of a business clearly going somewhere fast.  I am really looking forward to being able to bring to bear all my past experiences for this broad-ranging and central role.”

Chestnut owner, Philip Turner, said: “As we continue to grow at a rapid rate, pivotal to our future success is the focus on developing our people.  There is a real opportunity to position the Chestnut Group as one of the best employers regionally in this sector and Steve joining the business, is a huge step in the right direction.”