Parogon Group

Before getting into the hospitality industry Rich was a pharmacist and was Managing Director of Hulmes Chemists which operated 7 pharmacies in Staffordshire. He sold the business in 2003 to a large multiple

In 2007 Rich co-founded Parogon Group with 3 school friends, with his initial focuses being all financial aspects of the business.

For the next 11 years Rich played a key role in the expansion and continued drive of the business.

In 2018 Rich became Managing Director of Parogon Group, with a mission to expand and drive the business to new heights, while navigating a challenging time for casual dining.

Rich finds every aspect of the industry fascinating and is determined to keep developing along with the business.

He also has a cockapoo called Roly who is the most loved member of his household.

As well as co-founding Parogon Group in 2007 with 3 former school friends, James is the national head of Corporate Restructuring and Advisory department for a large legal practice.

He specialises in acting for corporates, company directors, insolvency practitioners, private equity holders, banks and asset based lenders, on all matters in relation to business restructuring, distressed lending and corporate insolvency.

James was the winner of Corporate Restructuring Lawyer of the year at the National Turnaround and Insolvency Awards in 2018 and is recognised in the Legal 500 “Hall of Fame” for “receiving constant praise” from his clients “for continued excellence” and for being “at the pinnacle of his profession”.

Phil’s passion for hospitality started in 1987 working on the bar of a small local pub, the Swan with Two Necks.

This passion led to him studying hospitality management at Manchester Met between 1989-1992.

Following an industry placement at TGI Fridays, Phil was accelerated into their management programme, holding management position for 8 years in Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham.

In 1999 Phil became GM of Rainforest café working in London and Manchester, until 2001 when he decided to set up his own small chain of coffee & sandwich bars in Staffordshire.

In 2007 Phil co-founded Parogon Group by re-opening the Swan with two necks bringing a contemporary gastropub to Staffordshire.

Phil has helped build the group by successfully acquiring & developing the concepts within all of the Parogon venues, and continues to do this

After Graduating from Bristol University in economics in 1990, David embarked on a commercial career with Pilkington Glass before working at Mars Confectionery as Business Development Manager.

In 1995, he moved to Premier Foods where he held a number of senior commercial and operational positions.

Following a full time MBA at Warwick and Copenhagen Business Schools, David joined Bass Leisure Retail (now Mitchells and Butlers) as Marketing Director-Bars and Venues in 2000. He was responsible for managing the city centre portfolio and creating and developing several new hospitality brands.

In 2004 David joined Alias Hotels as Managing Director where he developed the business, before overseeing a successful trade sale to new owners in November 2006.

6 months after co-fouding The Parogon Pub Company in 2007 where he is now Non-executive director, David became CEO of Sleeperz hotels, a business start-up which now operates five hotels throughout the UK.

Coming from a family with restaurants, butchers and bakeries, Chris was exposed to the exciting and energetic pace of a professional kitchen from an early age .

After working in various roles in South Africa Chris moved to the UK at the age of 19 to further his career, becoming a head chef by the age of 21.

He worked in high paced kitchens, as well gaining experience in fine dining kitchens and for a short period of time worked under Michelin star chef Georigo Locatelli

Chris then turned his attention to front of house with the vision of becoming a general manager and by the age of 24 was running one of Birmingham’s busiest restaurants.

It was here where he struck up a friendship with James Keates, one of the Directors of Parogon and in 2009 Chris joined the company as General Manager of the Swan With Two Necks.

In 2011, at the age of 31, after much hard work growing and developing the reputation of the Swan With Two Necks, Chris became a Director.