The return of Karen Jones to the pub and restaurant industry just six months after quitting Spirit Group will surprise no one who knows her. The 49-year-old has spent much of the past 30 years either working in bars, launching concepts or developing and running large pub companies.
She got a taste for the hospitality industry as a 17-year-old when she worked as a waitress at Betty’s Tea Rooms in York. After university she worked at the London bar Peppermint Park, where she met Roger Myers. After a brief spell in advertising, she was lured back by Mr Myers and after the pair floated Theme Holdings they teamed up again to launch Café Rouge in 1989.
Seven years later, they sold out to Whitbread for £133 million. The duo linked up again at Punch Taverns, from which Spirit Group was later demerged, only for it to be re-acquired by Punch in January for £2.7 billion.
Ms Jones, who lives in Wandsworth, London, enjoys running, riding, tennis and the theatre.