Kate Nicholls elected Institute of Licensing National Chair

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, has been elected National Chair of the Institute of Licensing.

She will take over from previous Chair Daniel Davies, who has served as National Chair since January 2015.

David Lucas, Chair of the IoL’s East Midlands Region since 2008, joins Francis Taylor Building barrister Gary Grant as Vice Chair of the IoL.

Kate Nicholls said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Institute of Licensing as its National Chair and I’m looking forward to working with our members and wider stakeholders across the many facets of the licensing landscape.

“Having been involved in licensing matters for many years, I know how integral it is to hospitality businesses, and working towards excellence in this space is exactly the right goal.

“I’d like to thank Daniel for all his work over the past nine years and for his commitment to the Institute of Licensing. As its longest-serving Chair, he has left a clear legacy that I hope to build upon during my time as Chair.”

Gary Grant said: “I am thrilled that Kate Nicholls OBE has agreed to take on the important role of Chair of the Institute of Licensing.

“Kate is a highly respected and well-known figure on the national stage with exceptional leadership, commercial and diplomacy skills. She has been a good friend and supporter of the Institute over many years and a regular speaker at our national conferences and events.

“The whole Board looks forward to working with Kate to progress the Institute further and faster towards its goal of ‘excellence in licensing’, partnership working and ensuring that all the voices of our wide membership are heard and amplified.”

He added: “To be joined as Vice-Chair by David Lucas is extremely welcome. David has been an indefatigable stalwart of the Institute, and its Board, for many years and his efforts have rightly been recognised by the Institute in the recent past. His elevation to Vice-Chair is proper recognition of his essential and vital work. 

“I would like to pay tribute to Dan Davies’ remarkable tenure as our longest serving Chair over the past nine years. The Institute has grown leaps and bounds during his leadership as a result of his immense efforts, charisma, commercial nous, and leadership. We will remain forever grateful to Dan and he will always find a warm welcome at the Institute.”