Twenty finalists across 11 pub companies have been revealed for the 2010 Operations Managers Awards.
The awards, organised by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), highlight the contribution made by Business Development Managers and Area Managers with one of each winning a title.
The finalists were chosen following paper judging and each will now meet with one of four judges — Kris Gumbrell, Tony Marten, Des O'Flanagan and Andrew Thompson.
A three-day Management Development Masterclass, run by Ashridge Consulting, will be the third stage.
Finally, they will face two industry panels and answer questions on how they run their estate, motivate their licensees and help improve profits.
The Area Manager of the Year and Business Development Manager of the Year will be announced at the ALMR Christmas Luncheon on 16 December.
"The competition continues to test the talent of some of the best people in the industry and the Awards really do celebrate the contribution made by some of our unsung heroes," said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish.
"It is these people that we want the industry to recognise and reward, and at the same time challenge other BDMs and AMs to attain comparable skill and dedication."
The full list of finalists is:
Anthony Davies, McMullen's
Gavin Hughes, Novus Leisure
Jon Perkins, Town and City
Sam Price, Orange Sun Bars
Alastair Robinson, Marston's Inns and Taverns
Ian Bruce, Enterprise Inns
Alan Hurt, Punch Partnerships
Geoff Liyanage, Greene King Pub Partners
Carolyn Matthews, Daniel Thwaites
Shaun Matthews, Charles Wells Pub Co
Martin McTigue, Punch Partnerships
David Ostrer, Enterprise Inns
Grant Read, Enterprise Inns
Chris Reed, Marston's Pub Company
Alex Smith, Punch Partnerships
Adrian Smith, Punch Partnerships
Jude Stout, Marstons Pub Company
Simon Taylor, Enterprise Inns
Daniel Wilkinson, Greene King Pub Partners
Gerard Winder, Greene King Pub Partners