With an innovative five-year strategic plan on hand, Group Chairman, Giles King announced on 1 March 2020 the appointments of Merrill King to the position of group CEO and Laura Morton to joint managing director. Laura will be responsible for the Capitol Select Division of the company.

Following the announcement, Merrill expressed her sentiments. "I am inspired and humbled every day by the women on our staff. The appointment of Laura Morton is testament to my belief of collaboration in the work place, empowering our staff and acknowledging their valuable contribution to the company."

"In my former capacity as joint managing director, my professional success was largely due to the support of the women at Capitol Caterers. Laura's dynamic management style and strong inter-personal skills are valuable attributes to the family ethos of Capitol Caterers. I could not be prouder of her appointment," she added.

Laura qualified as a professional chef in 1995 and proceeded to work at the Royal Hotel in Durban, the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, followed by a period overseas in various restaurants. She joined Capitol Caterers on 1 January 2012 as catering manager, responsible for opening the new catering unit at Oatlands Care Centre in Howick. Laura's dedication, attention to culinary detail and managing the demands of industrial catering were recognised early in her career. She rapidly progressed to the positions of project manager at Treverton College, KwaZulu-Natal area manager and operations manager; the latter position which she held for the past four years.

Laura's humility is evident when asked of her vision as joint managing director. "Quite simply, I want to give people the opportunity to grow, as I have. We have the right team at Capitol Caterers and the potential for growth. We are client focussed and have an operational formula that works. Our clients see value in the catering services we provide, and we have solid partnerships with both our long serving and new clients. At the age of 43, this responsibility further allows me to embrace opportunity optimistically, to recognise and reward our most valued asset, our staff and, importantly, lead my team by example," said Laura.

Together with fellow managing director, Russell Nzimande, industry can be assured that Capitol Caterers is strongly positioned to roll out their strategy for growth, to seize opportunities and build on their reputation as market leaders in the industrial catering sectors the company service. 

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