Steve
Sweeney
President and CEO
Chartwells
Steve has an extensive background in educational and corporate dining services, having spent the past 30 years in the hospitality industry.
Prior to joining Chartwells in 1997, Steve spent 18 years with FLIK International Corp, a Compass Group operating brand. Steve was promoted to his current position as President and CEO of Chartwells after completing seven years as Vice President of Operations for FLIK. He was responsible for FLIK’s company-wide operations, its expansion and ultimate success in the marketplace. Today, he oversees all Chartwells company-wide operations with annual sales of $970 million.
In addition to his responsibilities for Chartwells, he served as the President of Daka, Inc. and saw Daka through its merger into the Compass Group. Under his leadership all of Compass' education accounts were reorganized under the Chartwells banner. Steve has been able to chart a growth strategy for Compass’ education business that has allowed the company to enjoy double-digit growth every year since the company was founded. In the first year of Steve’s leadership account retention went from 89% to 97%. In both 1998 and 1999 Chartwells was named the number one growth brand by Nation’s Restaurant News. Steve is an officer and board member of the Compass Group, North American Division.
Steve began his career as a chef in the restaurant and corporate sector of the hospitality industry. An accomplished chef, he has won various awards for food presentation in New York and Boston Hotel and Restaurant Shows. He is a member of SFM, NACAS, NRA, NASPA, NACUBO, NAIS and AASCU, as well as several others trade organizations.
Steve resides in Stamford, Connecticut.