Neil Goulden

NEIL GOULDEN is the Chief Executive of Allied Leisure Plc. Mr Goulden
was born in Hong Kong and completed his education in Hampshire, gaining
a BSc in Politics and Law at Southampton University. He spent his early
career with the Ladbroke Group, starting as a Trainee Betting Officer
Manager and rising to become Regional Director for the Midlands when
only 26 years of age. After a spell with pub chain Chef & Brewer, then
part of Grand Metropolitan Plc, he returned to Ladbrokes as part of its
International Division based in Brussels, from where he moved to The
Hague for a four -year stint as Chief Executive of the Dutch Tote, which
was then managed by Ladbrokes under a management contract. Returning to
the UK in 1988, he joined prestige sports and events caterer Letheby &
Christopher and when the Company was taken over by Compass Group in
1992, he spent three years on the Compass UK Board heading their
specialist catering division. In 1995, he joined Allied Leisure Plc and,
over the past five years, he has been responsible for the restructuring
and reshaping of the Group as a major player in the Leisure sector.
Allied is now firmly focused on its three market leading leisure brands
– Megabowl (Tenpin Bowling), Rileys (Cue Sports) and Burger King
Restaurants – and with a turnover approaching GBP200 million pa, the
Group now employs over 5,000 people. In addition to his responsibilities
at Allied Leisure, Mr Goulden is a Non-executive Director of The Royal
Berkshire & Battle Hospital NHS Trust, a Director of Business in Sport
and Leisure and a Non-executive Director of AIM quoted Group XS Leisure
Plc. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors and of t Hotel &
Catering Institute and Management Association (HCIMA). He was voted
Dorset Businessman of the Year in 1987. Mr Goulden is married with three
children.