Greene King managing director Andy Wilson has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Business and Charity during Covid-19.
Wilson was instrumental in driving £2m of fundraising in 2021 by Greene King’s 40,000 team members, supporting a number of events and even running the London Marathon in October.
Greene King teams smashed annual fundraising record for charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support, despite spending a significant portion of 2021 in lockdown.
More than £2m has been raised by team members across Greene King’s 1,600 managed pubs, its breweries in Bury St Edmunds and Dunbar and support centre teams, making Greene King the charity’s top fundraising corporate partner this year.
The record follows news that earlier this year Greene King passed the £10m milestone of money raised for Macmillan since the partnership began in 2012.
In response to the news, Andy said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to receive an MBE and to have helped support Macmillan Cancer Support over what has been an incredibly difficult time for charities impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Greene King is more than pubs and beer: it’s about creating a heart of the community and giving something back. Our teams have done a fantastic job fundraising this year and it has been amazing to witness. I’m incredibly proud of all of them and this really has been a team effort throughout.”
Andy has been with Greene King since 2013 when he originally joined as an operations director before now heading up the company’s food-led brands including Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer and Farmhouse Inns, as well as Greene King’s hotels.
Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie said: “Andy has put his heart and soul into raising vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and I’m delighted he has received an MBE. He’s a constant driving force within our company, always thinking of new ways to engage pub teams, support centre staff and the Greene King leadership team in raising money. He is renowned for his infectious enthusiasm and energy, qualities that allow him to be so successful in motivating all around him. I look forward to seeing what his next fundraising challenge will be.”
Latest figures from PubAid estimate that pubs raise around £100m annually for charities across the UK, showcasing the importance and value they bring to communities by supporting good causes.
