ALMR operations manager of the year award winners announced

ALMR: Operation Managers Awards

Donny McIntyre of Spirit Pub Company and Heike Funke of Punch Taverns are this year’s Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers’ (ALMR) Area Manager and Business Development Manager of the Year.

The ALMR announced the result of its Operations Managers Awards at its annual lunch on 13 December.

Rob Summers of Punch Taverns was awarded a Highly Commended prize, while the Rising Star Award was made to Benjamin Smith of Charles Wells, who has been working within the licensed sector for less than two years.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the ALMR said: “The ALMR Operation Managers Awards celebrate the men and women who apply innovative thinking and tireless enthusiasm to grow their businesses and inspire and motivate their teams in a very tough operating climate. The standard of the class of 2012 was exceptionally high and this is demonstrated by the fact that a Highly Commended award was given for the first time in the Awards history.”

Finalists undergo a three-day strategic leadership development workshop, overseen by Ashridge Management and face field visits and interviews with a panel of awards judges.

Heike Funke, Business Development Manager, Punch Taverns
There are 45 businesses in Heike’s ‘patch’, which are spread throughout Yorkshire and along the M62 corridor. They range from good quality food led outlets to the more traditional community boozer. But whilst Heike does some 40,000 miles per annum seeing her customers this is a mere jaunt compared to her nine years working for Eurocamp where she oversaw the company’s 14 Area Managers and drove some 125,000 miles a year ensuring the campsites and holiday destinations were up to the standards she set.

Heike has recently been promoted to senior BDM which sees her deputise for her Director in his absence as well as mentoring and coaching the BDMs in the group.

Donny McIntyre, Area Manager, Spirit Pub Company
Donny has the pleasure of looking after some of the Country’s best known pubs as he is responsible for 20 outlets which form part of Spirit’s London pub estate plus four situated in the seaside resort of Brighton. He has been on this territory for almost 18 months but even within such a short time he has already achieved an above budget performance. In recognition of his success in this area plus his previous ‘patch’ in the North East, Donny was chosen as Spirit BDM of the Year.

Donny certainly has put in the hard work though, starting some 15 years ago as the general manager of a Chef & Brewer site then moving into an openings manager and training position before becoming an area manager.