Ottolenghi group appoints CEO to oversee 'measured growth'

Ottolenghi group has appointed its first ever group chief executive ahead of plans for ‘measured growth’ of the restaurant, retail and catering business.

Emilio Foa joins from a position as chief executive at luxury furniture retailer Oka, where he worked for four years.

He previously held senior roles at Burberry and Rapha, where he was part of a leadership team during key transformation and growth periods for both brands.

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi opened his first café in London’s Notting Hill in 2002. The business has since grown to seven London restaurants with a successful cookbook, retail and catering arm.

Ottolenghi said: “We are so pleased to have Emilio on board. He represents everything that we hold dear to the brand: perfectionism, deep respect for brand values and for food, wide-ranging strategic view and meticulous execution.

“Myself and the other founders, Noam Bar and Cornelia Staeubli, will be supporting him in his role to bring respectful, measured growth to a brand that we love so much.”

Last summer Ottolenghi group opened its first new deli in six years in London’s Marylebone, and launched one of its largest sites yet in Chelsea in January.

During the pandemic the business expanded its online product range of dinner boxes, meal kits and Ottolenghi Ready pouches, which boosted earnings despite the temporary closure of its restaurants.

Foa said: “I’m passionate about food and I’ve been an Ottolenghi enthusiast for more than 15 years, since I moved to London – I’m obsessed with quality and customer satisfaction, so this is a dream come true.

“It is also a big responsibility as I’m the first external exec taking the CEO role and I look forward to partnering very closely with Yotam, Noam and Cornelia on the next stage of the journey.”