Sector finance leader Strahan Wilson has passed away after battling stage 4 cancer, his family have announced.
According to an announcement released on behalf of his wife Nicole, Wilson died on Saturday 8 November.
He was remembered for his “patience, humility and kindness” by former colleagues.
Most recently, Wilson spent more than four years as chief financial officer at State of Play Hospitality, the experiential leisure group behind Bounce, Hijingo and Flight Club USA.
He was also known for having spent more than four years at Côte Restaurants as CFO, and nearly three years at EAT as CFO.
While at Côte, he proposed an industry-wide open-access solution to the problems faced by in-restaurant payment and ordering apps.
In a model that has since been popularised by Sunday, he proposed an umbrella platform app whereby consumers can order and pay at the table, in collaboration with other operators.
Wilson also spent a number of years at Burger King in IT and supply chain management roles, and Yum! Brans International in a variety of finance and commercial roles.
A statement published by State of Play described Wilson as a “much loved and respected member of our team”.
“As well as his first class intellect, Strahan will forever be remembered for his kindness, calmness and infectious laugh. He will be greatly missed by all of us who worked closely with him,” a company spokesperson said.
Toby Harris, CEO of State of Play, wrote: “Strahan was a very special man who we were lucky to have on our team. He was instrumental in shaping our business over the last five years and he led with patience, humility and kindness. He was cherished and admired at every level of the company and he had a gift for bringing lightness and humour to every occasion. Strahan will forever be Hijingo’s no1 fan. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with his family and friends.”
Former colleague Helen Wada wrote: “Strahan will have been known to most of you as a fantastic professional, committed to the organisations he worked with and most of all the teams that he led.
“It was a privilege to know Strahan from his early days at Arthur Andersen where he shone with his commercial acumen and ability to get things done.
“Most of all, Strahan was a fantastic friend, son, brother, husband and father to Nicola and all their children. He will be much missed by everyone.”
A funeral will take place on Thursday 27 November at St Luke’s Church, Sydney Street, SW3 6NH. Please message Helen Wada for details.
Donations to Izzy’s Smile fund or Trinity Hospice in Clapham, who supported Strahan and Nicola in recent weeks.
