New Programme Director announced
HIT Scotland appoints new Director to spearhead pioneering Executive & Leadership Development Programmes
30 September 2025 – The national charity for the hospitality industry, Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, has announced Dave Allen as Programme Director of the organisation’s new flagship Executive & Leadership Development Programmes.
An accomplished business leader with over 30 years of senior leadership and board-level experience, Dave will spearhead HIT Scotland’s new initiative, which seeks to strengthen the leadership skills, operational excellence and strategic thinking of senior-level executives. The overall aim is to foster a progressive, future-ready and innovative hospitality sector.
Founded by the Crerar Trust, industry donations and individual business contributions towards training, this is the hospitality sector taking the initiative and investing in its people to propel the industry forward.
Programmes on topics including leadership, business growth, finance, innovation, and emerging trends like artificial intelligence, have been specifically designed and created to meet the needs and address the challenges of hospitality organisations today, reinforcing Scottish hospitality’s status as a resilient, progressive and dynamic industry.
Dave joins HIT Scotland from The Open University in Scotland, where he served as Senior Partnerships Manager and interim Depute Director, driving significant growth in partnership development and delivering high-value, multi-sector projects and initiatives on behalf of the university.
Prior to this, Dave held senior leadership roles at People 1st International, Skills Development Scotland, and The Larder Cook School, as well as management positions with Marriott Hotels, Whitbread, and leading contract caterers Aramark and Elior.
With over 30 years of strategic leadership and board-level experience across commercial, charitable, and not-for-profit organisations, Dave combines deep expertise with a proven ability to build high-performing teams, secure sustainable funding, and bring innovative workforce development initiatives to market. Known for designing and delivering high-impact leadership and workforce development solutions, Dave is ideally placed to lead HIT Scotland’s new Executive & Leadership Development Programmes.
Dave Allen said of his appointment:
“I am very excited to be joining HIT Scotland to champion this pioneering initiative.
“Combining world-class expertise, bespoke rich programme content and practical, applied learning, the suite of executive and leadership programmes we will be developing for the sector will cultivate a new generation of hospitality professionals. The aim is to equip senior leaders with the skills to meet the demands of modern executive leadership, to anticipate future challenges and to uplift the industry as it continues to evolve.”
David Cochrane MBE, CEO of HIT Scotland, said:
“Our Executive & Leadership Development Programmes promise to be truly transformational for Scotland’s hospitality sector, empowering those in leadership positions to advance in their careers, and in doing so, uplift the entire industry.
“With his vast experience, strategic mindset, and shared values, I am delighted to welcome Dave on board to drive forward these visionary new programmes for Scotland’s hospitality leaders.”
Dave Allen added:
“I am looking forward to applying my expertise to deliver best-in-class programmes that sets the benchmark for hospitality leadership and executive excellence and establishes an environment where continuous professional development is prioritised.
“Building on the long history and success of HIT Scotland’s scholarship programmes, the new executive initiative will serve to enhance leadership talent in Scottish hospitality businesses, driving and strategic transformation to establish a culture of inspired hospitality in Scotland”
HIT Scotland’s Executive & Leadership Development Programmes will be open for applications in the late autumn and will complement HIT Scotland’s existing scholarship programme, which supports over 300 professionals annually.
More information on the Executive & Leadership Development Programmes can be found on the HIT Scotland website after the Autumn launch.