Mike Watson

With over 15 years’ experience driving innovative strategies and commercial results across a range of business sectors, Mike Watson joins as group finance director. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant, having joined ICAS in 1999.

Mr Watson spent a decade leading the media business interests of DC Thomson, initially as chief financial officer and then latterly as chief executive officer. Prior to that, he worked across several senior finance roles within the hospitality sector with Greene King and also within supply chain and logistics with global services provider Kuehne+Nagel.

In addition to Mr Watson, Holly Hewett has been appointed group director of marketing, David Lapsley becomes general manager of Pine Trees Hotel, and Adam Keatinge has been named the new general manager of Hospitality Linen Services.

Ms Hewett is a marketer who has spent more than 15 years working in the beauty and hospitality industries. She cut her teeth in international brand management and retail marketing for Walgreens Boots Alliance before joining Mitchells and Butlers where she held numerous roles including head of innovation, divisional head of brand for City and marketing manager for Premium Country Pubs.

Prior to joining Apex Hotels, Ms Hewett was group marketing director at Gaucho and M managing brand marketing and communications strategy for the business.

Mr Lapsley has been working for over 10 years in the hospitality industry. He is a highly experienced sommelier, former restaurant owner and hotelier. He was the joint founder of Etive, an award-winning fine dining restaurant in Oban.

Prior to that, Mr Lapsley was managing director of The Wine Closet and held general manager positions at The Royal an Lochan in Argyll and The Putechan Hotel in Campbeltown.

Mr Keatinge has a wealth of experience working in operations and management in the hotel linen and laundry sector. Before joining Apex Hotels he was general manager at Shortridge Ltd, providing commercial laundry services to hotels, restaurants across the UK. Earlier in his career, he was an account director at Professional Linen Services in Edinburgh supplying to over 200,000 hotel rooms across the country.

Angela Vickers said: “It’s great to welcome Mike, Holly, David and Adam to the Apex family.

“We are excited to bring on three highly experienced and motivated individuals who all bring something unique to the business.”