Chantry Group welcomes one of UK franchising’s best-known faces

Chris Hughes will be the group's head of commercial services and group financial controller

Chris Hughes QFP, franchise and funding veteran, joins the Chantry Group in the newly created role of head of commercial services and group financial controller. Chris is the latest addition to the growing team, which currently stands at 16 full-time employees.

The role sees Chris heading up the valuation services offered to franchisees and franchisors who are looking to develop their businesses positively for a future sale, as well as those that are ready to move on sooner. It enables Chris to combine a number of his personal loves: the love of franchising, the love of numbers and the love of helping people achieve their personal dreams and ambitions.

Chris started his career with NatWest in 1988, joining the bank’s central franchise team in 2004. This introduction to the world of franchising has allowed him to specialise in the sector and has seen him help hundreds of franchisees and franchisors in the years since.

In 2012 he joined Franchise Finance, going on to become the firm’s head of business planning. As a business consultancy and brokerage, Franchise Finance provided Chris with a platform to continue to support ethical franchising while also providing an opportunity for him to build upon the business and finance knowledge he had already gained from the bank.

As a member of the senior leadership team, he helped the business grow to the point where it was successfully acquired by Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC in 2018.

Chris now joins the Chantry Group as the organisation develops its offering to the franchising sector. He says: “The Chantry Group is well-known within the sector and I’m really excited to be joining a business that possesses such huge potential. I’m also looking forward to challenging myself in this new role, working alongside a great team of people and continuing to support the growth of the franchise industry.”

Chantry’s managing director, Chris Cook, said: “Welcoming Chris to the team has been an absolute pleasure. The culture and value fit could not be more perfect. Chris is one of the most highly qualified and truly genuine people in UK franchising. He is heading up one of the fastest-growing areas of our business, where the journey ahead is so exciting. Welcome, Chris!”

Chairman of Chantry Group, Chris Roberts, added: “Chris is joining Chantry at a great time, the evolution of the group’s proposition sees increasing business and brand value at the heart of our support to franchisors and franchisees alike.

“His skill set is unrivalled in franchising, no one is better placed to deliver on the expectations of our clients. I and my fellow ‘Chantarians’ are delighted to have Chris on board.”