AMANDA LEONARD

Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer

Amanda Leonard is Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer for PerfectStorm.Inc – a Management consultancy specialising in unlocking potential and optimising performance in the variety of businesses – as well as developing & delivering stakeholder led solutions to improve organisations’ reputation.

A global leader in organisation development and stakeholder management Leonard revolutionised talent management in the food travel sector by attracting top tier senior managers from major retail, restaurant and hospitality brands such as Disney Corporation, Harrods, Starbucks, Darden and Nieman Marcus.

At SSP, (the leading operator of F&B in travel locations worldwide) Leonard was instrumental in the acceleration of growth in the US market. Heading Client relations, PR, Communication and People Development, she achieved $200m of new business following the rebranding and repositioning of the US organisation.

Leonard and her team transformed the reputation of the business in North America and Caribbean markets through successful rebranding. This trailblazing programme led the way for the development of the global SSP brand identity, culminating in their differentiated market leading position as Food Travel Experts.

Following the successful development of the US business, Leonard returned to the UK where she was appointed as Senior Vice President for International Client Relations and PR leading SSP’s portfolio across 32 countries worldwide.

Introducing a stakeholder led approach to client and media relations & driving SSP’s brand identity through all of its core activity she also handled the challenging, successful re-financing of SSP in 2009.

Prior to her senior roles within SSP Group Leonard held Vice President and Senior Director roles in Compass Group (the worlds largest foodservice provider) specialising in organisational development, consumer and employee measurement , executive coaching and team performance. During her highly progressive tenure with Compass Group she led teams of up to 40 people and was responsible for over 120,000 employees with a turnover of $8billion in the USA, Europe and the UK.

A sought after Leader in the field of stakeholder management and organisation effectiveness Leonard is a guest lecturer at Rosen College of Hospitality part of the University of Central Florida and has been a contributing writer for numerous industry publications.

As an 18 year veteran of the Retail, Hospitality and Restaurant business she has served on several corporate boards including Travelodge, Little Chef, Harry Ramsdens and Moto Hospitality. Leonard has also played a key role in acquisitions mergers and disposals.

In her broad range of project roles she spearheaded and developed Compass Groups’ global employment brand and led a complex international executive development programme across 82 countries – some in developing markets.

Leonard started her career in J.Sainsbury Plc, where she held a variety of operational and Human Resources roles.

Her broad experience has been characterised by her first board appointment at 28 years old and exceptional global career progression.