The Caterer’s monthly round up of job changes and appointments in the hospitality industry. Discover September 2024’s movers and shakers
It’s been another busy month for job changes in the hospitality industry, with a host of people leaving roles or taking on new positions in August.
We round-up some of the appointments to watch from the past month.
Michelle Mella is to step down as general manager at Whatley Manor hotel in Wiltshire after just over a year in the role. Mella’s tenure saw the return of Grey’s Restaurant to seven-day service and the introduction of an à la carte menu in the Michelin-starred Dining Room. He has yet to confirm his next move but a search for his successor is already underway.
James Brown is to take over as chief executive at Prezzo following the casual dining chain’s return to profitability last year. He joins from the same role at Brewdog Bars, where he oversaw the group’s expansion outside the UK. Dean Challenger, Prezzo’s former chief executive, will reassume his previous role as chief financial officer following the chain’s recovery.
Tracey Smith has been appointed chief executive of Sodexo UK & Ireland’s schools and universities division. She takes over from Philip Smith, who was promoted to the role in March 2022 after nearly 15 years in the business. Smith, who joined Sodexo 10 years ago will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of over 450 state and 60 independent schools, as well as 105 university sites across the UK.
The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne has announced the first change in leadership at the hotel in 30 years, with James Perry appointed as the new general manager. He takes over from Jonathan Webley, who has retired after joining the hotel three decades ago. Perry joins from the Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa in Kent, where he has worked for 12 years.
Artfarm has confirmed chief executive Ewan Venters will leave the business in January, or sooner if a replacement is found. Venters joined the business in 2021 and has overseen the purchase of London’s Groucho Club for a reported £40m and development of its first club outside of London, which will open in 2026. Venters said he was leaving to pursue “new opportunities”.
Ash Corbett-Collins has been elected as the new chairman for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). He is a long-standing member of the group and was first elected to the board in 2018. Corbett-Collins replaces Nik Antona, who has stood down due to ill health following a five and a half year tenure.
Fernando Corona Burch has joined Rosewood London as executive chef. He has taken over from Simon Young, who left the hotel in May to launch his own consultancy business. Burch joins Rosewood from Park Hyatt Los Cabos in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where he was executive chef.
Simon Champion is to leave his role leading Boxpark after seven years at the company. He took on the post in 2022 after the group’s founder, Roger Wade, stepped down. In a post on LinkedIn, he said he was looking to “recharge and seek a new challenge”. Boxpark has yet to confirm his replacement.
Natasha Thiebaut has been appointed as chief commercial officer at Freemans Event Partners. She was previously vice president of IMG’s stadium division and played a leading role in the opening of Wembley Stadium. At Freemans, she will be tasked with delivering a five-year plan to grow the business, as well as developing and introducing all-inclusive ticket packages in the UK event industry.
Luca Mastrantoni has been promoted to head chef at Ekstedt at The Yard, the Scandinavian open-fire restaurant at London’s Great Scotland Yard hotel. He was previously chef de partie at the Drunken Butler in London’s Farringdon before joining Ekstedt at the Yard as a junior sous chef in 2022. Mastrantoni replaces Therese Andersson in the role.
Baton Berisha has stepped down as chief executive of the Wolseley Hospitality Group after two years in the role. In a post on LinkedIn, he said “after much reflection” he had decided to leave for a “new adventure”. The group has yet to confirm Berisha’s replacement but he said he would “remain on board to settle in my successor when they join”.
Palé Hall Hotel & Restaurant in Llandderfel, Wales, has appointed Chris Zafeiropoulos as its new restaurant manager. He joins from the three Michelin-starred Fat Duck in Bray, where he was based for almost a year. It comes after the new owners of Palé Hall revealed plans to add another restaurant and a spa with an organic dining space to the property.
Gavin George is to step down as chief executive of Laine Pub Company after 27 years. He will move away from day-to-day management to a new position as non-executive director within the wider Punch Pubs & Co business, where he remains a shareholder. Russell Danks, who joined as managing director of Laine’s pub arm last year, will take over management from late September supported by Martin Entwistle, who oversees its brewing division.
Kevin Fawkes has been appointed executive chef at the Athenaeum Hotel & Residencies in London’s Mayfair. He joins from Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, where he was executive chef, to replace Ian Howard, who joined the Athenaeum as executive chef of Galvin at the Athenaeum in 2019.
Liam Sweeney has been named head chef at Cinder, a pair of Mediterranean restaurants in north London. He was previously head chef at the two-Michelin-starred Kitchen Table in London’s Bloomsbury. Cinder has also recruited Jim Conway as general manager, who has worked at the Petersham in London’s Covent and Kitchen Table, where he met Sweeney.
Ayo Adeyemi has left his role as executive chef at West African restaurant Akoko in London to start “a new chapter”. He joined the team in 2022 and saw the restaurant win its first Michelin star this year. Mutaro Balde, former group executive chef at Le Comptoir Group, has stepped into the executive chef role at Akoko.
Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Marc Cooper as its new chief information officer. He joins with over 20 years of experience in leading digital and technology transformations for companies and has held senior roles at brands including McDonald’s, EE, Epson, and British Airways.
Chris Eden is to move to Watergate Bay hotel in Cornwall following his departure from Gidleigh Park in Devon in July. He spent five years at Gidleigh Park and led the team when it was awarded a Michelin star in 2023. Eden will start at Watergate Bay on 1 October to coincide with the launch of a new autumn menu at the Zacry’s restaurant.
Fried chicken chain Wingstop UK has hired Adrian Saunders as its head of acquisitions as it eyes further growth across the UK. Saunders previously led the acquisition team at the Restaurant Group (TRG), where he took on 45 high street and shopping centre sites for Wagamama.
Scott Davies has been appointed executive head chef of the Old Manse of Blair boutique hotel and restaurant in Perthshire. He joins from the Three Chimneys restaurant with rooms on the Isle of Skye, where he was based for nine years as executive head chef.