Hospitality job moves: Mandarin Oriental, Le Manoir, Six Senses, Côte Brasserie and more

Mandarin Oriental snaps up Shangri-La general manager

The luxury hotel brand has appointed Philippe Kronberg as general manager of its Hyde Park hotel in London. In his new role, Kronberg, who Mandarin Oriental poached from rival Shangri-La, will also support several of the hotel group’s other locations, including Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia in Paris and the newly opened Conservatorium in Amsterdam.

 

Caffè Nero appoints new chief executive

Coffee chain Caffè Nero has named Hotel Chocolat’s former boss Lysa Hardy as its new chief executive. Hardy succeeds Will Stratton-Morris, who stepped down as manager of the coffee specialist in June. Hardy spent seven years at Hotel Chocolat in a career culminating in the chief executive role, which she held from 2024 until her departure from the business in August.

 

Le Manoir appoints Arnaud Donckele as culinary director

 

Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons has named Arnaud Donckele as culinary director of the two-Michelin-starred hotel and restaurant in Oxfordshire. Donckele’s appointment coincides with founder Raymond Blanc taking a step back from his role as chef-patron to become founder and lifetime ambassador.

 

Donckele currently leads La Vague D’Or in Saint Tropez and Plénitude at Cheval Blanc Paris, which have each been awarded three Michelin stars. His appointment marks his UK culinary debut.

 

Côte chief executive exits

 

Côte Brasserie’s chief executive Emma Dinnis has stepped down from her role with immediate effect. The abrupt departure comes three months after the casual dining chain’s acquisition by the Karali Group in October.

 

Trivet poaches head chef from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

 

Trivet has snapped up Adam Tooby-Desmond, head chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, for the equivalent role. Tooby-Desmond is understood to have succeeded Lukas Juhaniak.

 

Six Senses unveils leadership team ahead of London opening

 

Six Senses has appointed Nick Yarnell to helm its upcoming opening in London’s Bayswater as general manager. Yarnell will lead a 300-strong team, including Taffryn Kinsey-Ellis as director of wellness and Charlotte Pulver, a seventh-generation medical herbalist, as head alchemist. He will be supported by Nico Eden, director of Six Senses first private members’ club, and Ailsa Kerr, director of programming.

 

Boparan Restaurant Group chief executive departs

Satnam Leihal has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the restaurant group, which operates nine brands including GBK and Cinnamon Collection, after more than six years. Following Leihal’s departure, Boparan Restaurant Group’s director of operations Richard Pigott has been appointed as managing director.

 

Miiro Templeton Garden welcomes South Place’s general manager

 

Dean Culpan has switched London’s South Place hotel, where he acted as general manager for over three years, for an equivalent post at Miiro Templeton Garden in Earl’s Court. He succeeds Nicola James, who was appointed general manager of Templeton Garden upon its opening last April.

 

Greyhound unveils a host of internal promotions

 

The three-AA-rosette Greyhound in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, has announced five promotions across its front and back of house teams – including Lauren Gulliford-Brown, who originally joined the business as a junior waiter and has now been promoted to restaurant manager. Rohit Sharma was promoted to assistant manager, Natalie Sherriff to senior waiter, Nathan Moore to chef de partie and Sam Clyne to senior chef de partie.

 

London’s Night Tsar role axed in favour of committee

While radio DJ and broadcaster Amy Lamé stepped down as London’s night tsar in 2024, news that the role would be permanently retired by the Mayor of London was only confirmed this month.

 

The position, which was created in 2016 and intended to be an ambassadorial appointment for London’s nightlife industry, will be replaced by an independent commission whose members are to be confirmed.

 

Mercure Newcastle branch snaps up Acorn winner Abroza Yasmin

 

Abroza Yasmin has joined Newcastle’s Mercure George Washington Hotel Golf and Spa as food and beverage manager from London’s Stamford Bridge hotel. Yasmin, who won an Acorn last year, previously worked at Upmarket Leisure, the hospitality firm behind Gino D’Acampo’s branded restaurants.

 

Gavin Stewart promoted to area manager of Croeso Pubs

Gavin Stewart has been promoted to area manager of Croeso Pub’s nine venues, including Cardiff’s the Philharmonic, which said it posted record-breaking results in 2025 with Stewart as general manager.

 

Stewart, who joined Croeso Pubs last January, has 21 years’ experience across the industry. He said he will focus on junior management development in his expanded role “with plans to enhance training pathways and progression opportunities to support the next generation of Croeso leaders”.