Welcome

Lesley Welsh

Iona Pub Partnership is headed up by Lesley Welsh who has a vast experience within the industry. Lesley first started working in the hospitality industry when she was studying for her Law Degree at Aberdeen University. Since then she has never looked back and has worked for Whitbread doing various roles from general manager to project manager. From there it was off to Punch Taverns for more than 5 years working both in England and Scotland and she now finds herself here at Iona.

e: lesley.welsh@g1group.co.uk 07989 601 663

Sarah Lowry

Sarah Lowry, Business Projects Manager, a role which supports the operators in identifying key areas to drive the business forward, both through marketing and training development. With 7 years of experience working with both managed house and tenanted pub companies as a design, marketing and training consultant she is able to offer advice and direction to the businesses and help drive the business forward. With a graphic design degree and marketing consultancy background as well as developing a range of training tools for tenanted pubs she is well equipped to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and assist with your business. With an added career in property development, interior design and running a pub and hotel she understands the frustrations and needs from both sides of the bar.

e: sarah.lowry@g1group.co.uk 07989 146 602

Business Development Managers

Alan Dunn

Alan has been involved with the licensed trade for almost 20 years, starting out as projects manager on refurbishments of many (too many) pubs, restaurants and hotels. He then joined Punch Taverns where he worked for more than 7 years, in both in England and Scotland, in property and operations roles. Alan joined the G1 Group on the property side of the business in 2007 and recently joined the Iona team, back working directly with tenants to create and grow successful businesses.

e: alandunn@g1group.co.uk 07875 365 381

Patrick Canavan

Having worked in the Licensed Trade for 14 years with Scottish & Newcastle and during these years I spent 7 years as a Sales Manager looking after the Regional Free Trade across various parts of Scotland, spent 2 years in a Customer Marketing role and 6 months as a Retail Sales Manager for a managed pub division. I then moved on to work on a major Sales Project, developing new ways of working for the regional free trade side of the business. My most recent position within S&N was Operations & Sales Manager for the leased pub division. I get a real buzz out of the trade and I’m really looking forward to working with the Iona team.

e: patrickcanavan@g1group.co.uk 07817 647 794

Paul Wishart

Paul Wishart, Business Development Manager started in the trade as a glass collector and worked his way up to Manager of a nightclub on the East coast owned by an independent operator. After seven years with them he moved to Belhaven for five years
in various roles in Dundee and Stirling as pub Manager. His career developed and he progressed to area controller then area manager for two years covering east and central Scotland

e: paul.wishart@g1group.co.uk 07870 266 545

Gary Patterson

Gary Paterson joins Iona after 19 years within the industry. As a chef he worked his way through the ranks and departments to manage hotels, restaurants and bars. After spending some time in France cooking, Gary returned to Scotland and found himself selling cars for a living (sales training which he said was invaluable). Gary then joined Carlsberg UK and again worked his way up various roles in sales, training, national accounts to be regional sales manager for the company. Gary is looking forward to his role within Iona and sees them as a forward thinking progressive company.

e: gary.paterson@g1group.co.uk 07971 449 374