Hospitality champion becomes IoD Vice Chair

Monday 13 June 2022

A longstanding champion of the hospitality sector has been appointed as Vice Chair of the Institute of Directors' Jersey branch.

Simon Soar began his career in catering, before starting a training business for bar staff, managing and launching several new businesses, then becoming CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association, and then Head of Hospitality with Jersey Business.

Mr Soar received a Bailiff’s Citation in 2020 in recognition of his industry leadership during the pandemic, and in 2021 was awarded a Chair award in the 2021 IoD Jersey Awards.

More recently, he founded the not-for-profit organisation Mindful Serve this year in order to support hospitality workers suffering with their mental health.

“I am driven by a passion to help individuals improve themselves and become the best they can be, as well as to establish nurturing environments where businesses can thrive. These are all values which I know the IoD stands for,” Mr Soar commented. 

“It’s therefore a great honour to be appointed Vice Chair and be able to assist our new Chair, Natasha Egré in leading IoD Jersey and ensuring the organisation provides modern, diverse, and forward-thinking support for its members and the Jersey community we serve.”

IoD Chair, Ms Egré, added: “We have some major challenges ahead as we tackle inflation, supply chain issues, and recruitment hurdles for all the industries we support and I think Simon’s experience will be paramount to achieving our goals.”