Chris Hill

Senior Operations Manager - BLACKHOUSE

Joined: October 2003

This is me...

As Senior Operations Manager for BLACKHOUSE & SUBURBIA, I work directly for Paul Moran and enforce (in a nice way) the wishes of the board in terms of operations.

My role is quite hard to define and involves most facets of the business. My role includes (not exclusively) the financial performance and reporting, stocktaking, recruitment, management development, dealing with suppliers, customers and staff, maintenance and much more...

In essence it is my job to ensure that everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing, throughout the brand, in every area.

I would like to think I have one of the most varied, challenging and ultimately rewarding jobs in the best company in this industry.

This is what I've done...

I left university in 2002 as a despondent and delusional post-grad (4 years and £30k for an MEng works out at 1 year and £7.5k per letter!!) and decided to swerve the few job offers that I received as they mostly involved 1. A machine, 2. A clipboard and 3. An unavoidable life path to a second hand Volvo and a variety of Christmas jumpers.

I took a job working in a bar, whilst I decided what to do next, and came to the conclusion that the hospitality industry was something I really enjoyed. (Recognise the cliché anyone?!!)

I was fortunate(?) enough to meet Mr Paul Moran in September 2003 and went on to be offered the job as the manager of The Cotton Club (Prohibition), Liverpool. I upped sticks, left Nottingham and headed back to my home town. Here my LV adventure began....

Life in Liverpool involved moving back home with my parents, driving a 1984 900cc Nissan MIcra (bought for 200 quid), working 6 late shifts per week and seeing an average of 1.2 hours of daylight per week.

I decided that the only way to curb my clearly 'rock and roll lifestyle' was to work hard, brown-nose all my superiors and wait for my opportunity!

This chance came along in January 2006 when Prohibition Liverpool (then Bar & Grill) was sold and I was offered the position of General Manager in Smithfield Bar & Grill in London.

Á la Dick Whittington, off I went to London armed with a perma-tanned nose, one suitcase, a tube map and 250quid (sold the Micra for a tidy profit).

Two fantastic years followed in London were all sales and profit records were broken and despite 'squatting' in five different friends' flats in this time, I made London my true home.

In January 2008, Mr Moran then came to visit me and we had the following conversation that will live long in my memory:

Mr Moran: I have great news for you Chris... I know you've always wanted to get into the operations side of the business, and that opportunity has now come up.
Me: Brilliant!!
Mr Moran: I thought you'd be pleased. You start on Monday...
Me: Oh, Ok. That's pretty soon. (5 days)
Mr Moran: And that's not all, I need you to go to Glasgow...
Me: Oh..
Mr Moran: ...for 3 months!!
Me: OH!!

Without dispute, I packed up my suitcase and headed off to Glasgow where my current role began....

As Senior Operations Manger I have lost 14lbs in weight and then gained 35lbs in weight, quit smoking, started smoking (repeat), learned the names of every train guard on the Virgin West Coast Line, lost an inch of my hairline, become an expert on Yellow Fish Curry, Espresso and Barbeque Ribs and developed a real flair for Excel spreadsheets whilst using a French keyboard on my laptop.

What I'm about...

Despite spending a lot of time on the road, I live in a wonderful flat in London with my beautiful fiancée, Emma.

While described sometimes as a workaholic, I find it easy to work hard when you enjoy your job as much as I do. There really is no point doing it if you don't enjoy it.

I am passionate about my home life, my work life and Everton FC.

I live my life by a couple of simple rules:

1. Be nice to people on your way up the ladder as you don't know who you'll pass on the way back down.

2. Don't be friends with work colleagues on Facebook