Incipio Group appoints new chairman
Edward has been with the Incipio Group since 2022, when he joined the board as a non-executive director and has more than three decades of experience advising and investing in leisure businesses.
"From the moment I saw the transformation of the Prince in West Brompton from a quiet neglected pub into a busy, vibrant and spectacularly successful house of fun, I knew that Incipio was special.
Extraordinary opportunities
“As one of the most innovative companies I have seen in our sector, we are well placed to take advantage of several extraordinary opportunities, and I look forward to working even more closely with such a great team”, Edward said.
The ingoing chairman previously co-founded Hippo Inns and is also a founding investor on the board of Pizza Pilgrims, while his previous directorships include Geronimo Inns, La Tasca and Brasserie Blanc.
Edward has also worked in an advisory role for transactions included the sale of New World Trading Company and Loch Fyne as well as fundraisings for Pho and Be At One.
He is also an investor in Thunderbird Fried Chicken and Double Dutch.
Growth plans
The group, which runs venues including Pergola on the Wharf, the Libertine and the Prince in London, reported its strongest-ever month of trading in December 2023, with like-for-like sales up 66% compared with the previous year, all contributing to a record year of sales at £26.4m.
Growth was driven by a combination of an increase in Christmas party bookings, private events and festive activations, the company said, reporting an increase of 38% in guest visits vs 2022.
Incipio Group chief executive Ed Devenport said: “I am delighted and very excited about Ian’s appointment as Chairman.
“Ian has a wealth of knowledge and specific experience in our sector that will be of great value to Incipio at a crucial time as we begin the next phase of our growth plans.”
