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Career Profile

Find out how some of the most accomplished people in the industry got to where they are now with our series of career-focused interviews.

David Connell, general manager, South Lodge hotel

David Connell: Career Profile

10-May-2013 - David Connell is a prime example of good old-fashioned hard work paying off. Having worked at various restaurants and hotels in the UK and France, he joined luxury hotel group Exclusive Hotels over 10 years ago, recently taking up the position of general manager at South Lodge in West Sussex.

Oisin Rogers, general manager of the Ship pub in Wandsworth and the Thatched House pub in Hammersmith

Oisin Rogers: Career Profile

26-Apr-2013 - As general manager of two Young's-owned pubs, the Ship in Wandsworth and the Thatched House in Hammersmith, Oisin Rogers is well placed to explain how to develop a career in the industry and get what he calls 'the best job in the world'.

James Ferguson: Career Profile

11-Apr-2013 - James Ferguson, head chef at the newly-opened Shoreditch restaurant Beagle, talks about how he made his way up the career ladder and why you won't see him chasing Michelin stars.

Chris Wheeler, executive chef, Humphry's restaurant at Stoke Park

Chris Wheeler: Career Profile

02-Apr-2013 - Chris Wheeler began his career as Jean-Christophe Novelli’s right-hand man at Le Provence in Lymington and went on to work for the French celebrity chef for 10 years. He joined Stoke Park in 2003 and has been building up the hotel’s culinary reputation over the past 10 years, now as the executive chef of Humphry’s fine-dining restaurant.

Maria Larsen and Scott Hunter own three food-led pubs in London

Scott Hunter & Maria Larsen: Career Profile

15-Mar-2013 - This young husband and wife are a pub success story, with a knack of reinvigorating dilapidated London boozers into profitable gastropubs. The pair took over the Princess of Shoreditch in 2008, doubling sales in less than a year. They then acquired the Lady Ottoline in Bloomsbury in 2011, and the Pig & Butcher in Islington last year. 

Alyn Williams rose through the ranks at Gordon Ramsay Holdings and worked under Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley

Alyn Williams: Career Profile

01-Mar-2013 - A Michelin star, 15th in the National Restaurant Awards and the National Chef of the Year title – 2012 was a remarkable year for Alyn Williams. In this exclusive interview, the chef-patron of his eponymous restaurant at the Westbury hotel in Mayfair reveals some of the secrets to his success.

Frederic Brugues, director of wine at Sketch says passion for wine, hard work and an approachable nature make a good sommelier

Frederic Brugues: Career Profile

15-Feb-2013 - Frenchman Frederic Brugues started his career as commis sommelier for Marco Pierre White in 1996. As wine director for London restaurant Sketch he has steadily built up the wine cellar to over 750 bins. He consults on individual tastes and requirements and advises on matching particular wines to Pierre Gagnaire’s menu.

Restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas entered the hospitality industry when she founded Sonny's Kitchen in 1986

Rebecca Mascarenhas: Career Profile

01-Feb-2013 - Rebecca Mascarenhas is best known as a restaurateur who, behind the scenes, has been an instrumental partner in some of London's leading neighbourhood restaurants - Sonny's Kitchen, Kitchen W8 and Sam's Brasserie - but the entrepreneur was originally training to become an actress.

Russell Brown: Career Profile

18-Jan-2013 - Russell Brown is chef-owner of Sienna, Dorset's only Michelin-starred restaurant. He was recently made head of the Dorset Panel of the South West-based Chef's Forum and later this year will celebrate 10 years of running his own restaurant. 

Chef Paul Ainsworth took sole occupancy of Number 6 in Padstow in 2009, earning his first Michelin star for the restaurant last year

Paul Ainsworth: Career Profile

03-Jan-2013 - Paul Ainsworth recently picked up his first Michelin star at Number 6 in Padstow. Having worked under the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Marcus Wareing, the chef has gone from strength to strength on his own; also running the Italian restaurant, Rojano’s in the Square, appearing on the BBC’s Great British Menu last year and capping off a successful 2012 as one of the highest climbers in the National Restaurant Awards, with Number 6 placing 36th.

David Haines has been head concierge at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge since March 2010

David Haines: Career Profile

14-Dec-2012 - With the recent TV documentary Inside Claridge's highlighting the importance of concierge services in hotels, BigHospitality has spoken with the current Concierge of the Year. David Haines is head concierge at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. With over 25 years’ experience in the hotel industry, he is seen as an ambassador for concierges across the capital.

Emmanuel Landre: Career Profile

30-Nov-2012 - Le Gavroche's Emmanuel Landre had some big shoes to fill when he took over from Silvano Giraldin as the restaurant's general manager in 2008, but the Frenchman said he learnt well from the 'master of service' and is helping to steer the restaurant through its 45th year in business. Here, he charts his career and gives his thoughts on the hospitality industry. 

Peter Avis, restaurant manager of Babylon at Virgin-owned The Roof Gardens in Kensington

Peter Avis: Career Profile

16-Nov-2012 - Peter Avis’s job in charge of the Virgin-owned Babylon restaurant at popular celebrity haunt The Roof Gardens is a far cry from his humble Liverpool beginnings and comes after a fascinating career straddling both sides of the Atlantic. 

Peter McAlister was last month crowned the 2012 UK Restaurant Manager of the Year by the Academy of Food and Wine Service

Peter McAlister: Career Profile

02-Nov-2012 - Peter McAlister from the Culloden Estate & Spa in Belfast was last month crowned the 2012 UK Restaurant Manager of the Year by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS). He previously spent six years working with Malmaison and now hopes to use his accolade as a means of helping more young people break into hospitality.

Ross Shonhan, owner, Bone Daddies

Ross Shonhan: Career Profile

19-Oct-2012 - Australian-born Ross Shonhan, former head chef at Zuma and Nobu, is set to open Japanese ramen concept Bone Daddies  in Soho next month. The chef reveals his career achievements and challenges and explains his love affair with Japanese cuisine.

James Durrant launched his first solo venture, The Plough Inn, earlier this year

James Durrant: Career Profile

05-Oct-2012 - Chef James Durrant recently saw his life ambition come true when he bought, renovated and opened his own restaurant – The Plough Inn in Hampshire. A protégée of Gordon Ramsay, Durrent worked within GRH for nine years, starting at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay as a junior sous chef before moving onto Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's as Senior Sous Chef and ending his career with the group as Executive Chef at Maze, working directly in hand with Jason Atherton.

Simon Flint, executive chef at the National Theatre

Simon Flint: Career Profile

21-Sep-2012 - Simon Flint celebrated his six year anniversary as executive chef at the National Theatre in June, but with 28 years of experience in the industry, from Center Parcs to The Groucho Club and Caprice Holdings, he has approached the varied role with an experienced restaurant chef mentality.

Gideon Joffe: Career Profile

07-Sep-2012 - Gideon Joffe, the 32-year-old son of Giraffe founders Russel and Juliette Joffe opened his first restaurant – MonkeyNuts – in Crouch End, North London nine years ago. The restaurateur went on to open Chez Bob in Belsize Park seven years later and he will open his third restaurant, a chicken shop called Chooks, later this month in Muswell Hill.

Paul Beckley, head chef at the QHotels' Midland Hotel, Manchester

Paul Beckley: Career Profile

24-Aug-2012 - As head chef at Manchester's The Midland hotel, 38-year-old Paul Beckley works in his native north west but after studying he actually trained in London hotels before working his way through the ranks at The French restaurant at The Midland. He now oversees all the hotel's restaurants and catering.

Nick Crispini: Career Profile

10-Aug-2012 - Born into a restaurateur family with an Italian father, Nick Crispini could have begun a hospitality career from a young age but instead chose to train and set up a company as a web developer before trying DJ-ing and even modelling until he founded Antico Restaurant & Bar earlier this year.

Rohit Chugh, founder and chief executive, Roti Chai

Rohit Chugh: Career Profile

27-Jul-2012 - Rohit Chugh landed his first position in the restaurant industry as managing director of Cinnamon Club in 2004. In 2008, he set-up its sister site, Cinnamon Kitchen. Chugh then decided to fulfil a lifelong ambition to run his own Indian street food restaurant, Roti Chai, which opened in August last year.

Pepijn van den Abeele, manager, Cottons restaurant

Pepijn van den Abeele: Career Profile

13-Jul-2012 - Belgian national Pepijn van den Abeele has been manager of London burlesque club and cocktail bar, Volupté since November 2011. He worked in a variety of jobs in hospitality in Belgium before moving to London in 2006 to take up the role of manager at Caribbean restaurant Cottons.

Baerbel Moehrle, meetings and events sales manager, Park Plaza Victoria

Baerbel Moehrle: Career Profile

29-Jun-2012 - Baerbel Moehrle began her career as an event coordinator for Marriott Hotels in Hamburg, before making the transition to London as an event executive for the Chancery Court Hotel. There, she rose to senior event manager before landing her current role at Park Plaza Victoria. 

Troels Bendix, founder of The Hungry Guest in Petworth

Troels Bendix: Career Profile

15-Jun-2012 - Danish-born Troels Bendix holds claim to the rare title of Master Baker. He initially trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of Denmark before moving to London to work at the Sugar Club in 1999. In 2001, he founded Breads Etcetera, growing from a one-man band to a bakery with its own shop and cafe, supplying top London outlets. 

Thasanee Robinson: Career Profile

01-Jun-2012 - Thasanee Robinson, originally from Thailand, began her hospitality career as a trainee chef at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation and remained in the kitchen for several years before deciding to switch to front-of-house. She is currently general manager at Theo Randall at the InterContinental in London.

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