Julie McEwan joins Fridays as chief operating officer

Julie McEwan has been appointed chief operating officer of casual dining chain Fridays and will oversee all its UK sites.

McEwan joins the company from Big Table Group, previously Casual Dining Group, where she was brand director. She was named as one of the top 100 Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure in 2020.

Earlier in her career she worked at Spirit Pub Company and Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn.

In her new role McEwan has been tasked with "ensuring that quality, simplicity and relevance is at the forefront of everything [the business] delivers as it embarks on its ambitious growth plans".

McEwan said: "I am so excited to be joining such a successful brand with a strong heritage and identity. The Fridays culture is incredibly unique and I am looking forward to being part of its next growth chapter, working alongside exceptionally talented people. The company has ambitious plans, and I cannot wait to get started."

Robert Cook, chief executive of Fridays, added: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Julie to the Fridays family! She brings a wealth of experience and unrivalled expertise which will be instrumental to our growth plans, as we bring the Fridays feeling to even more people right across the country."

Fridays' growth plans will see the group open a new flagship store in Chelmsford this spring and open its first quick service restaurant in Dundee next month.