A consultancy firm headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent has brought in a new director having just delivered its best-ever first half of the year financial results.
Map Room, a practitioner-led consultancy, has enjoyed its most successful H1 since the business was founded in 2012.
The achievement has been described as a ‘real milestone’ and one that reflects both the strength client partnerships and the hard work of the team.
The firm, in Stoke, has announced the appointment of Richard Colclough, Managing Director of the Parogon Group as a non-executive director.
He brings with him more than 30 years of experience in building and scaling businesses.
Paragon Group has grown from a start-up in 2007 to operating 12 award-winning venues and employing over 700 people under his leadership.
The announcement was made in a new short film, A Seat at the Table, featuring Richard and Map Room’s Chief Brand Officer Marc Cotterill.
Richard said: “Having watched Map Room’s remarkable growth, I can see the ambition, clarity, and entrepreneurial spirit that mirror my own views on business.
“I’ve led teams through challenging markets – from recessions to Covid – and I believe I can bring an independent perspective that helps accelerate Map Room’s journey and make it a little smoother along the way.”
Map Room’s achievements include a Sunday Times awards in 2024 for being one of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies.
Marc said: “On the surface, it’s not an obvious appointment – Richard is a ‘restaurant’ guy, we’re a consultancy, but that’s exactly why it makes sense.
“Hospitality is one of the most competitive industries there is. Margins are tight, customers are demanding, and their expectations are always evolving.
“Richard and his team have built and scaled a portfolio of venues that customers love. That entrepreneurial sharpness and commercial perspective is exactly what we need at this stage of our growth.”
