Calvern James is a passionate advocate for the hospitality industry and a seasoned business leader with over 23 years at Stepstone Group. As Director for the UK Hospitality Markets, he leads Caterer.com and CatererGlobal, ensuring they remain the go-to recruitment platforms for the industry, built on deep partnerships and collaboration.

For Calvern, hospitality is more than a market—it’s a community. He believes job boards should do more than list roles; they should solve industry challenges. That’s why he champions a consultative approach, working closely with employers, associations, and industry leaders to drive talent attraction, retention, and workforce development.

With expertise in sales leadership, people development, and job tech innovation, Calvern ensures his teams deliver real value—providing insights, tools, and intelligence that help businesses hire and retain top talent in a fast-changing landscape.

A respected industry voice, he speaks at events, hosts roundtables, and judges awards, staying at the forefront of hospitality recruitment trends. Known for his energy, straight-talking approach, and unwavering support of colleagues, he develops a high-performance culture while making the journey as rewarding as the results.