Simovic, formerly director of excellence, will take up the new position this month to oversee the running of Umbrella Training and sister company Elite Hospitality Assessment Professionals (EHAP).
She said: “I am delighted to take on this role. Ever since I joined the business, the unwavering desire to work collaboratively to achieve results is what has spurred me on.
“We have a fantastic business model; my job is to ensure that we continue to grow and maintain the values which has made our business what it is today.”
Since its inception, Umbrella training has supported the ‘recruitment, development and progression’ of more than 2,000 apprentices in the hospitality sector.
Simovic will work alongside chief executive Adele Oxberry who founded the business in 2012. Oxberry added: "Our growth to date has been completely organic. This has been primarily down to the belief we have in offering meaningful and collaborative apprenticeship programmes.
“We know that, as we grow, we need to ensure that these values remain throughout everything that we do. This is a key reason behind Jo’s promotion.”