Inspirational Leader Awards 

Derek has worked within hotels for nearly 30 years, starting out as a casual banqueting waiter at Hilton East Midlands Airport. Derek’s first full-time role was as Night Manager at the Thistle East Midlands Airport. After a couple of years, he took on a finance assistant role and worked his way to Finance Controller and then Area Finance Controller.

 

After 10 years at Thistle, Derek left to go to IHG again as Area Finance Controller, where he was for several years. After IHG, Derek became Director of Finance at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole – a great hotel to be part of with a £40 million turnover. From Hilton Derek came to Valor as Group Finance Controller, looking after 17 hotels initially but now up to 35.