Emma Colquhoun
Wingstop UKI has appointed Emma Colquhoun as chief growth officer to drive its expansion. Colquhoun joins the fast-expanding fried chicken group from Wagamama, where she held the role of chief marketing and commercial officer. She has nearly 20 years’ experience leading growth, transformation and customer-centric strategy at some of the world’s most recognised consumer and hospitality brands. Her experience includes executive team positions at Krispy Kreme and Ferrero, as well as leading growth and customer-focused initiatives across a portfolio of well-known brands including Nutella, Nescafé, Robinsons, Huggies, Kleenex, Tic Tac, Kinder Bueno and Ferrero Rocher.
Rani Raimondi
Levan co-founders Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell have named Rani Raimondi as their new head chef. His appointment is accompanied by a “thoughtful refresh” of the restaurant’s interiors, which was unveiled last week. Raimondi, originally from Naples, Italy, joins Levan with an impressive résumé shaped by an all-star line up of kitchens. From Michelin-starred The Clove Club, to the acclaimed Planque in East London, La Compagnie in Neal’s Yard and Prosper in Marseille, where the city’s Mediterranean larder and easy-going energy has left a lasting mark on his cooking. His new menu will build on the restaurant’s longstanding love affair with French gastronomy, with some fresh new thinking inspired by Raimondi’s culinary roots. New dishes barbecued sea bass with vin jaune; and Tunworth filled tortelli with truffle in brodo.
Dominic Teague
Dominic Teague has joined Hilton’s upcoming Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch hotel as executive chef. Teague brings more than 30 years of global culinary expertise to the role and will work closely with director of food and beverage Dimi Leivadas to “bring the hotel’s culinary portfolio to life”. This includes Clare Smyth’s seafood concept Coreus and Daniel Boulud’s all-day dining concept Café Boulud. Teague will oversee the hotel’s culinary programme – from menu development to operational management – ensuring “exceptional quality and service” across all culinary outlets, including in-room dining and events. He joins from One Aldwych, where he served as executive chef. His CV also includes The Lanesborough and L’Escargot in London, The Regal Hotel in Hong Kong, and Sandy Lane in Barbados.
Nick Allen
Gordon Ramsay Global has named Nick Allen as its new chief financial officer ahead of its “next phase of global growth”. Allen joins the group with more than 20 years’ experience across international omni-channel retail and hospitality-led businesses, most recently as group CFO at Holland & Barrett and previously as CFO at Starbucks EMEA. His appointment follows a year of strong financial and operational performance at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. In FY24, the group delivered record UK revenue of £134m and adjusted EBITDA of £12m, underpinned by new restaurant openings, continued international expansion and the consolidation of its UK and US businesses. Looking ahead to 2026, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, along with its partners at Lion Capital, is continuing to expand its portfolio of brands across the UK and internationally, with a focus on franchising its quick-service concepts in the US, including Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Street Pizza.
Maura Lawrence Milia
Maura Lawrence Milia has joined the Eagle Bar at The Chancery Rosewood as general manager. She will oversee day-to-day operations, team leadership and guest experience at the rooftop venue, working closely with director of bars Liana Oster. An award-winning hospitality leader and entrepreneur, Milia brings more than a decade of experience working at some of the world’s best-regarded bars. Her career in hospitality began in 2011 and includes 10 years at The Connaught Bar, where she served as bar manager and helped establish the venue at the top of The World’s 50 Best Bars ranking. In 2024, Milia co-founded three hospitality concepts – Outline, Café Arixi and Copal – across Mexico City and Oaxaca, each reflecting her focus on culture-led, experience-driven hospitality and operational detail.
Lysa Hardy
Caffè Nero founder and group CEO Gerry Ford has named Lysa Hardy as the company’s new UK CEO. Hardy joins the coffee shop and roasting business with more than two decades’ experience leading and growing high-profile UK retail brands, most recently as CEO of Hotel Chocolat. Her previous roles include senior positions at T-Mobile, Joules, and Holland & Barrett. Hardy’s background prior to general management was in senior marketing, commercial and customer leadership roles across consumer goods and services businesses, and she has also held several non-executive director positions. She will work alongside existing managing director Glyn House, who remains in his role, with both overseeing the UK Caffè Nero business.