People on the move: July 2018
Kim Woodward
Kim Woodward has left D&D London’s Skylon to join the group’s 100 Wardour Street restaurant, bar and club as executive chef. A protégé of Gordon Ramsay, she cooked at Boxwood Café and York & Albany, before becoming the first female head chef in the Savoy Grill’s nearly 130-year history in 2015. Woodward will introduce new dishes to 100 Wardour Street over the next few months, expanding its range of gluten-free and vegan options.
David Campbell
The Ivy Collection has named David Campbell as the first chief executive of its fast-growing restaurant group. Formerly of Wagamama, he was credited with reviving the noodle chain’s fortunes and doubling its value after joining in 2014. The Ivy group has opened 24 sites under its Ivy Café, Grill and Brasserie brands in the last four years, with more in the pipeline for 2018.
Jake Siddle
Jake Siddle is to take over as head chef at Michelin-starred House of Tides in Newcastle. Siddle has been at House of Tides since it was opened by chef patron Kenny Atkinson in 2014, and will be promoted from his current role of sous chef. It comes after former head chef Danny Parker announced he would be leaving the restaurant in August for a role at Jesmond Dene House.
Alex Dilling
It’s all change at Mayfair’s The Greenhouse, which has named Alex Dilling as its new executive chef. He joins from two-Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, where he led the team as executive corporate chef. Dilling's CV also includes time as chef de cuisine at Caviar Russe in New York, which won a Michelin star during his tenure. He has taken the reins from former Greenhouse chef Arnaud Bignon, who left the restaurant in spring after six years.
Zuaya
Former Barrafina sous chef Francisco Lafee has been appointed to head up the kitchen at Zuaya, the Latin American restaurant which opened in London’s High Street Kensington on 20 July. He has gained experience in some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and Central in Lima.
Zuaya has also named Francisco Teixeira as general manager. He joins from a role as senior restaurant manager at Hakkasan, and is well-versed in running busy restaurants, having held similar positions at Shoreditch House, Yauatcha and Gaucho.
Marco Novella
Marco Novella is the new managing director of The Lanesborough, London. It comes after former MD Geoffrey Gelardi stepped down after nearly 28 years running the Hyde Park Corner hotel. Novella was previously managing director at Brown’s Hotel London, and previously ran Belmond’s Villa San Michele in Florence. “I take pride in personally getting to know guests and look forward to this role in such a prestigious property where expectations are high,” says Novella.
