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The Collins King Team

The Collins King Team

We have a highly experienced and professional recruitment team with a genuine passion for the hospitality industry and a diverse network of established client relationships across all sectors of the market.

We pride ourselves on offering both clients and candidates a dedicated recruitment service with a personal touch.

Gary King, Director

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After successfully completing a two year Hotel Management and advanced Chef training course Gary spent three years working as a Chef in the capital before entering the recruitment industry as a Consultant with Blue Arrow Hospitality Recruitment where he spent three years.

Gary then spent a year with a Hong Kong based Search & Selection Consultancy before joining Reed Hospitality recruitment where he spent nine years before setting up Collins King & Associates with former Reed colleague Matthew Collins in July 1999.

Gary is primarily responsible for handling Management appointments in the Contract Catering and Events markets. Gary also handles senior Management and board level appointments across all industry sectors.

Martyn Smith, Associate Director

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Martyn trained as an apprentice Chef with Hilton Hotels before joining Sodexho UK and spending four years at three of their London units. He then moved to Charters Catering as a Directors Chef in a high profile City based Merchant Bank where he spent almost three years.

Martyn entered the Recruitment industry with Berkeley Scott Chefs Division where he then spent three years before joining Collins King & Associates in August 2001. He is primarily responsible for all levels of chef recruitment

Martyn was promoted to the position of Associate Director in July 2006.

Shaun Highfield, Consultant - Chefs Division

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Shaun entered the Hospitality Recruitment industry following a successful Management career with one of the UK's leading themed Restaurant Groups. Prior to joining Collins King & Associates in February 2004, Shaun worked for two of London's leading Hospitality Recruitment companies recruiting a range of Culinary and Management Personnel. Shaun specialises in the recruitment of Chefs for the Contract Catering sector & Private Members Clubs.

Oliver Smith, Consultant – Branded Restaurants & Retail Catering Management

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Oliver commenced his hospitality career with one of the UK's leading themed restaurant & bar operators where he spent 3 years. During this time he was involved in numerous opening projects and also participated in cocktail and flair bartending competitions. Oliver then spent 15 months in Australia working in a style bars & restaurant before returning to the UK and moving into branded and themed restaurant recruitment. Oliver then spent two years as an in-house recruiter for a large concession restaurant company before re-joining Collins King & Associates in September 2011 specialising in the recruitment of branded & retail catering management personnel.

Ruth Ray, Consultant - Management Appointments

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Ruth Ray has a wide range of experience gained across the hospitality, catering & events Industry. Ruth commenced her hospitality career in busy branded restaurants before moving to the corporate events sector where she spent two years working in event planning and Front of House Management. Ruth then moved to the Contract Catering field as Service Manager at a leading London Hospital before joining Blend recruitment in late 2009 where she was responsible for recruiting Management personnel across a number of different markets. Ruth joined Collins King & Associates in May 2011, and is responsible for the recruitment of Management personnel, primarily within the Contract Catering and branded restaurant markets.

Phoebe Parry – Recruitment Coordinator

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Phoebe joined Collins King & Associates in January 2012 having spent two years working within the retail and hospitality industry both in London and Europe. Phoebe's primary responsibility is providing direct operational and administrative support to the Collins King recruitment team. Phoebe is also responsible for handling regular project management assignments and the update of current vacancies on the Collins King & Associates and host websites.