He will continue in his role at the progressive Mayfair Indian restaurant BiBi, which is also part of JKS Restaurants.
In his new role as global culinary director, Sharma will oversee Gymkhana London — which holds two Michelin stars — and the brand’s global expansion in identified regions across North America and the Middle East, as well as supporting and leading its incumbent executive and head chef teams.
Late last year, JKS Restaurants opened a Gymkhana in Las Vegas. The group is also looking to roll out both Gymkhana and its sister high-end Indian restaurant brand Ambassadors Clubhouse.
Sharma has worked with JKS Restaurants for the past decade, beginning as group development chef, where he helped shape the culinary direction of several of its Indian brands, including Gymkhana, before going on to open BiBi in 2021.
JKS Restaurants says the appointment represents both a full-circle moment in Sharma’s professional journey and reflects the longstanding relationship he shares with the JKS team.
Now in its fifth year, BiBi is a progressive restaurant serving dishes inspired by ingredients and memories from the Indian subcontinent.
Sharma will continue to lead BiBi, remaining actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant alongside head chef Erin Jackson Yates and restaurant director Millie Povey.
“BiBi is, and always will be, a very personal project for me. I look forward to nurturing and overseeing the growth of my amazing team at BiBi, who really deserve all the credit for the restaurant’s success.
“Returning to Gymkhana now feels like a homecoming of sorts. It’s a return to the place that — especially in the early days — educated my Indian palate more than anywhere else. As we step into this new chapter, I’m proud to be working alongside the talented and established teams across Gymkhana. I’m grateful for the support and trust placed in me by Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi to lead two such incredible restaurants.”
Karam Sethi, co-founder of JKS Restaurants, added: “Chet has been an integral part of JKS for many years. He has an innate understanding of Gymkhana, alongside the leadership and vision to take the brand on to a global stage.”