Lisa Gibbons named managing director of Las Iguanas

Lisa Gibbons has been appointed managing director of Big Table Group's Las Iguanas restaurant brand.

Gibbons has over 20 years’ experience in hospitality, having started her career in operations at Mitchells and Butlers.

In 2011, she joined Big Table Group as operations manager of Café Rouge and in 2016 she became operations director of Bella Italia.

Following her promotion to brand director of Bella Italia in 2019, she took on the role of managing director (portfolio brands) of Café Rouge, Amalfi and the group’s franchise restaurants, including its Center Parcs partnerships.

Her most recent appointment followed Alan Morgan stepping down from his managing director role to focus on being chief executive of Big Table Group.

Gibbons said: “Las Iguanas is an amazing brand with a unique offering and I can’t wait to get started. There’s huge appetite for the brand across the UK and I’m really excited to contribute to the continued growth of the business over the next few years.”

Morgan added: “Our decision last year to realign our business into a structure that was more focused on our individual brands has proven to be successful, and I have no doubt that this change has played a significant part in helping us to drive great performance across the group, despite the many challenges our industry has faced over the last 12 months.

“As our business is now in a strong position to grow for the future, my time and focus is required to be fully in the CEO role to lead that, so now is the right time for Lisa to step into the role of Managing Director Las Iguanas.”

Gibbons will start her new role on 31 July. Greg Gibbons will lead the Café Rouge team, while John Baker, managing director of Bella Italia, will also lead the group’s Amalfi and franchised sites. Anne Chow will continue to lead Banana Tree, which it acquired last year.

Big Table Group is the operator of the Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Amalfi, Banana Tree and Café Rouge brands and operates more than 150 restaurants in the UK and Ireland.

The group is owned by private equity firm Epiris.