HDI appoints Business Development Director

Hospitality insight experts HDI have expanded their team with the appointment of Mark Bentley as Business Development Director.  Mark joins from Molson Coors Beverage Company where he headed up their on trade category management function for the last 6 1/2 years, working directly with many of the biggest pub groups across the country such as Stonegate, Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers, Whitbread and Marston’s, as well as having a high profile across the sector through being part of industry-wide initiatives such as the Cask Matters working group.

Mark’s remit covers sales & marketing for HDI, as well as having responsibility for developing our portfolio of products and services.  Darroch Bagshaw, Managing Director of HDI said, “It’s brilliant to have Mark on board at what’s an exciting time for the business.  We’ve successfully grown our business through word-of-mouth over the last 5 years, without ever really doing any sales or marketing.  Many of our clients have commented that we’re the best kept secret in the hospitality industry, so it’s now time for us to step out from the shadows and take a more proactive approach to developing our business. Mark’s experience from both within and outside the UK food and drinks sector will further boost HDI’s ability to provide clients with unmatched market, operator and customer insights.”

Mark commented, “I’m really looking forward to getting started at HDI and meeting the wide range of different clients that we work with.  I’ve worked closely with the team at HDI over the last 5 years from the client side and they’ve always been brilliant to work with and offered something different to our other agency partners.  I’ve always seen HDI as the ones who are leading the way when it comes to pushing the boundaries of data & insight provision in the hospitality sector, which has historically lagged behind what’s available in the grocery sector.  I’m excited to join the team and help them kick-on to the next level.”