Williams, who stepped down from his role as CEO of Gaucho and M and its holding company Rare Restaurants in October last year, will join the group at the end of March.
He replaces D&D co-founder David Loewi, who announced he was stepping down from his role as CEO and board director in November last year.
“I am delighted to be joining such an amazing group of restaurants, many of which have a phenomenal legacy, which played no small part in my falling in love with the hospitality sector,” says Williams.
“I now look forward to taking stewardship of the company as it enters a new chapter of growth under the new Evolv Collection branding as each brand individually and collectively evolves.”
Williams’s appointment coupled with the recently announced rebrand follows a period of intense change for the London-centric restaurant group.
In late 2023, the group was sold to private investment companies Calveton and Breal Capital in a £60m deal.
The sale followed a tricky period for the group in which roughly a third of its locations were shuttered.
D&D London has closed more sites following the sale including its Angelica and Crafthouse venues in Leeds.
The group now operates around 20 restaurants principally in London, but also with venues in Manchester, Birmingham, Paris, and New York.
Its portfolio includes some of the capital’s most longstanding and best-known restaurants including Quaglino’s, Coq d’Argent, Le Pont de la Tour and Orrery.
“Martin joins us at a very exciting time for the business,” says Simon Wilkinson, board director for D&D London.
“Following a focussed period of stabilisation and transformation, we’re looking forward to him leading us into the next phase of both organic and acquisitive growth.
“On the back of a record festive trading period, a strong January and our first major refurbishment for many years, the business is well positioned for Martin to evolve and grow the business further.”