Mentor
Nick Candler
Overview
Nick Candler is an experienced Chair and former senior executive with a strong track record in building and scaling purpose-led consumer businesses. He spent nearly 12 years at Pret A Manger in senior leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, helping to steer the business through sustained growth while strengthening its distinctive culture and operating model. This blend of operational and financial leadership has given him a deep understanding of how to grow entrepreneurial brands without losing their character or values.
Nick is currently Chair of Cook, a Certified B Corporation and one of the UK’s leading frozen food manufacturers and retailers, recognised for its focus on quality, community and impact. He is also the former Chair of Project Art Works, a leading charity that supports people with neurological impairments through art. Across both commercial and not-for-profit settings, he is known as a Chair who helps organisations solve strategic problems, set clear, realistic paths to success and ensure delivery through a trust-based, collaborative approach.
Particularly adept at working with founder- and values-led businesses, Nick supports leadership teams to sustain growth, sharpen strategy and evolve governance while protecting the core beliefs that make the organisation distinctive.
Nick brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Food retail, hospitality & consumer brands – leading finance and operations in a fast-growing, values-driven international food brand and chairing a leading UK frozen food business.
• Scaling entrepreneurial & purpose-led companies – helping founder and mission-driven organisations sustain growth while preserving culture and values, including in B Corp settings.
• Finance, operations & execution – drawing on CFO and COO experience to connect strategy, numbers and operations in practical, implementable plans.
• Board leadership, culture & stakeholder trust – chairing boards in both commercial and charitable sectors, building trust-based relationships with leaders, teams and stakeholders.
He combines calm strategic thinking with a practical understanding of day-to-day operations and is valued by CEOs and boards as a sounding board who brings clarity, challenge and support in equal measure.
PDF Profile
Download PDFMajor Career Roles
CPJ Field & Co Ltd
Chair
Cook Trading Ltd
Chair
Pret a Manger (Europe) Ltd
COO and Finance Director
Other Career Highlights
Unilever UK Ltd
Regional Finance Director (including Culinary Finance Director USA)
Allied Domecq plc
Finance Director
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