Tim Cookson
Chair
Following qualification, and combined with a desire to see the world, Tim joined the Merchant Navy as a chef on a cruise liner. After three years (and an amazing suntan) Tim came to the realisation that he was never going to make it as a top chef, and a career path in business awaited.
Returning to dry land in 1976, Tim took a position within an Oxford University College which gave him the opportunity to study day release for his HCIMA qualification. After two years he became formally qualified and began his management career.
Tim joined a family run business in 1980 as a production kitchen manager and rose through the ranks to become Managing Director and shareholder when the business was sold to Sutcliffe Catering Services in 1991.
After holding many board level positions over the next 10 years within major hospitality organisations (including PLC’s such as Marriott and Sodexo) Tim decided in 2000 to do his own thing and established several companies.
Having sold Acquire Services to Compass PLC in 2014, Tim has focused on positioning his catering and hospitality consultancy – The Litmus Partnership – as the number one consultancy in the UK. Tim is also Chairman of the Union Club Ltd, a private members’ dining club in Soho.
Tim served as a non-executive director of the Royal Society of Medicine for five years and four years as a Governor of Leeds Thomas Danby Catering College.
He is a also a member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the professional body for managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.
Specialist Skills
Tim’s specialist skills include:
