Hospitality Ulster has announced the appointment of Joelene Poole as its new Chief Operating Officer, strengthening the organisation’s senior leadership team as it continues to champion Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector.
Joelene Poole joins Hospitality Ulster following almost five years with Retail NI, where she most recently served as Operations Manager, having previously held the role of Office Manager. She brings more than three decades of operational, executive, and organisational leadership experience across membership organisations, training, construction, and the private sector.
Prior to Retail NI, Joelene was Office Manager at BSD Training and spent almost a decade as Executive Officer at the Construction Employers Federation, where she managed the Safe-T-Cert and NVIR-O-CERT accreditation schemes and was responsible for delivering the CEF/Specify Construction Excellence Awards. Earlier in her career she held senior administrative and HR roles across a number of Northern Ireland businesses.
In her new role, she will oversee Hospitality Ulster’s day-to-day operations, supporting the organisation’s strategic objectives while helping to ensure members continue to receive first-class representation and services.
Joelene Poole, Chief Operating Officer, Hospitality Ulster, said:
“I am delighted to be joining Hospitality Ulster at such an important time for the sector. Hospitality businesses continue to face significant challenges, but they also play a vital role in our economy, our communities and Northern Ireland’s visitor offering. I look forward to working with Colin, the team and our members to help strengthen the organisation, support the industry, and ensure Hospitality Ulster continues to be an effective voice for businesses across the sector.”
Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Joelene to Hospitality Ulster as our new Chief Operating Officer. She brings a wealth of experience in organisational management, operations and member services, alongside an impressive track record of delivering for business representative organisations in Northern Ireland.
“Joelene’s leadership, professionalism and extensive operational expertise will be invaluable as we continue to develop the organisation and support our members through what remains a challenging trading environment. She is a fantastic addition to our senior team, and I look forward to working closely with her as Hospitality Ulster continues to grow its influence and deliver for the hospitality industry.”