Great people are at the heart of our business – without them we simply couldn’t operate.
Our service is delivered by amazing people who work with care, integrity and diligence to meet the needs of all our guests. Motivated to achieve a service that everyone enjoys and can trust, they are integral members of the school community.
Food and Nutrition Team
Jon Lilley, Group Development Chef
Jon started out as a chef over twenty years ago and has led the kitchen teams of some of the biggest staff catering sites in London. His experience working across many of our sites created a framework for the innovation and development in his role as Group Development Chef, leading the food team.
Jon ensures we continue to innovate and lead the way when it comes to providing fresh and tasty food to people at work. He works closely with our existing sites and sales team to develop menus and ensure our offer continues to meet each client’s needs.
He has played a huge role in helping the business attract and retain talented chefs, having coached over 20 chefs through his kitchen into more senior roles across Lexington. In addition to inspiring our chefs through organising chef forums, supporting our apprentice programme and managing events, he has also invested a considerable amount of time to drive sustainability across the business.
Benjamin Martin, Lead Development Chef
Ben joined Lexington Independents as Group Development Chef in March 2024, following a previous role for Lexington as Executive Chef for Virgin Active, where he successfully mobilised over 30 sites across the UK.
With more than 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry, Ben's culinary journey began under the mentorship of Albert Roux, where he developed a strong foundation in classical French and modern British cuisine. He went on to work in some of London's leading high-end independent restaurants before moving into the branded restaurant sector, where he played a key role in creating, developing, and leading some of the UK's and Middle East's most loved restaurant brands.
As Lead Development Chef at Lexington Independents, Ben brings a wealth of expertise in team leadership, concept development, and global cuisine. His extensive knowledge spans a diverse range of culinary traditions - including Japanese, Moroccan, Vietnamese, and Italian - which he skillfully integrates into the company's food innovation and development initiatives.
Robert Swinfen, Development Chef
Robert joined the Lexington Independents team in August 2025 from previously working in Operations and Food development in the B&I sector. As a key stakeholder in the maintenance of food standards for Lexington Independents, Rob brings creative flair to our kitchens focusing on seasonal and fresh foods and championing the diverse cuisines from around the world. He has extensive experience developing food offers within the contract catering sector and is keen to nurture the next generation of chefs and food producers by supporting, mentoring, and coaching.
Leah Style, Nutritionist
Leah joined the Lexington team in October 2023 as an education Nutritionist dedicated specifically to Lexington Independent schools. Leah has an undergraduate degree in Food Science and Nutrition as well as a Master’s degree in Global Public Health Nutrition. She is a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition. She leads on delivering engaging healthy eating sessions for students and is passionate about ensuring that every student is served nutritious food to help them grow and thrive, whilst also learning about the food they eat.
Operations Team
Charlie Hayward, Business Director
Charlie joined Lexington in 2020, bringing a wealth of experience from the contract catering industry, having worked across Business and Industry, Stadia, and Events. He began his Lexington career as Operations Manager for the national Virgin Active account and quickly advanced to lead key contracts across the UK within the B&I sector.
In November 2024, Charlie was appointed Business Director for Lexington's Independent Schools division. He now oversees the delivery of best-in-class food and service across 18 schools, while continuing to support other high-profile accounts.
As a member of the Lexington leadership team, Charlie plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the business. His focus on bespoke service solutions and commitment to innovation is underpinned by a deep passion for food and service excellence.
Bonnie Dankbars, Operations Director
Bonnie is an accomplished Operations Director with extensive experiences across the hospitality and food service sectors. Passionate about people, service, and food, she thrives in dynamic environments where leadership, financial performance, and client satisfaction are key. With a strong background in team development, HR management, and business operations, she consistently delivers exceptional results in high-profile organisations. Her strengths include project management, mentoring, brand development, and leading through change while cultivating positive, high-performing teams.
Throughout her career, Bonnie has held senior operations roles at Lexington and Elior UK, overseeing major contracts such as the Bank of England and United Learning. She has managed multi-site portfolios, led nationwide teams, and delivered complex projects spanning ESG initiatives, HR audits, and major contract mobilisations.
Previously, Bonnie worked with renowned brands including Jamie Oliver Ltd, the National Theatre, and Carluccio's, gaining broad experience in restaurant management, retail operations, events, and brand launches. A strong communicator and natural mentor, she combines commercial acumen with creativity and empathy, making her a highly effective and respected leader. Bonnie holds a BA (Hons) in Social Sciences from Nottingham Trent University and is a certified Mental Health First Aider.
Louise Jackson, Operations Manager
Louise is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, primarily focused on Business and Industry, where she has worked regionally on multiple high-profile corporate accounts. Louise is passionate about fostering strong relationships and developing cohesive teams through mentorship and support.
Louise joined the Lexington Independents team in October 2024 and is conveniently located in the Midlands to support our regional portfolio. Notable achievements in Louise's career include the successful mobilisation of four new build sites in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow for a single client, as well as two years of managing food and beverage operations at a state-of-the-art events complex in Aberdeen with ASM Global.
Andrew Oxford, Operations Manager
With over 20 years' experience in hospitality and operations - including six years within independent education catering - Andrew brings exceptional energy, vision, and expertise to his role.
His career spans premium hospitality, large-scale venue management, and education-sector leadership, allowing him to blend operational excellence with creativity and innovation. Renowned for his drive, high standards, and strong partnership approach, Andrew excels in building trusted client relationships that foster collaboration and long-term success. He is passionate about setting new benchmarks across the independent education sector - delivering dining experiences that inspire confidence, build community, and continually raise expectations of what school catering can achieve.
Sales Team
Nick Clarke-Brown
Nick is our Business Development Director, supporting growth across independents schools, reception services and B&I catering. With 20 years' experience spanning restaurants, high-profile events, and corporate catering operations, Nick joined Lexington in 2021. He helped achieve growth in the independent schools portfolio by 40% in 2023, securing key partnerships including United Learning (12 schools), Putney High School, and Kent College.
Nick's approach is consultative rather than transactional - building bespoke solutions through deep understanding of client needs and missions. He holds a BA in Business Management with Accountancy and a CIMA Diploma.
David Francis, Business Development Manager
David is a seasoned and results-driven catering professional with over 25 years of experience in both commercial and contract catering. His career reflects a strong blend of operational excellence, strategic leadership, and a passion for food and service quality. David has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead teams, manage complex budgets, and drive long-term business strategies across multiple high-profile contracts. His strengths lie in motivating teams, delivering results to budget and deadlines, and fostering client relationships. He is also deeply involved in training and mentoring, contributing to the development of future leaders in the industry.
David is also a qualified NVQ assessor, and holds certifications in mental health awareness and nutrition, reflecting his holistic approach to leadership and wellbeing in the workplace. David re-joined Lexington in February 2025 and heads up the sales process for Lexington Independents, identifying new opportunities and driving growth across the group.
