Speakers
Will Hobhouse is currently Chairman at Le Pain Quotidien, Jack Wills, Past Times, Lombok and Explore Learning. He has bought equity stakes in each business and works with the management team to build and grow the concept.
From 1988, as CEO, he built up Whittard and eventually floated it. Starting with three shops, Will raised finance and built the company into a chain of over 100 shops. Whittard was floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in July 1996 and moved to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange in September 1997.
Prior to joining Whittard, Will was CEO at Tie Rack Plc. He joined the business when there were 15 shops, opened 150 shops in eight countries and floated on the main board of the Stock Exchange in June 1987. Before joining Tie Rack Plc, Will was at Argyll Group Plc and Associated British Foods Plc.
Will is Chairman of Trustees of the inspirational Greenhouse Schools Project, a charity that uses sports and arts programmes to teach 11-16 year olds life and social skills.
Will Hobhouse is one of those exceptional business people who have proved themselves as both a corporate leader and as an entrepreneur.
