John Conlan, Non Executive Director

John is one of the UK's most respected entrepreneurs and has been a Kalahari shareholder for a number of years.

In 1983, he became a founding director of First Leisure plc, at the time of its management buy-out from THF.  First Leisure was floated in 1984. Under his leadership it enjoyed uninterrupted profit progress and grew to become one of the UK's largest and most successful leisure companies, with a market capitalisation of over £500 million. 

In 1998 John founded Urbium PLC, the AIM listed bar restaurant group, which he developed into a business with a market value of £140 million. At the same time he launched Chorion PLC, an AIM listed media and intellectual property company which owned and managed a portfolio of famous authors rights, including Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton. More recently he was Chairman of the venture capital backed Barracuda PLC until its sale in 2005 and is currently Chairman of Paramount Restaurants and London Irish Holdings, the owners of the well-known London Irish Rugby Football Club.