People on the move: November 2020
Adam Simmonds (above) has been named head chef at soon-to-open The Mayfair Townhouse. The former executive chef at Danesfield House has joined the new London hotel, which is due to open on 3 December. His CV include positions at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Heathcote’s, Longridge, L’Escargot and Les Saveurs and he was most recently executive chef at The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge. Before that Simmonds had a brief stint as head chef at the restaurant at Belmond Cadogan Hotel and also ran pop-up restaurant Test Kitchen in Soho. Simmonds joins The Mayfair Townhouse team, which includes Andrew Stembridge as executive director, and Federico Ciampi as general manager.
City Pub Group has appointed Toby Smith as its chief operating officer. Smith has held CEO roles with Stonegate Pub Company, Novus Leisure and Town and City Pub Company in a career that has spanned more than 25 years in hospitality. Alex Derrick, City Pub Group joint managing director, left the company on 10 November.
Hannah Rippon (pictured) has been promoted to assistant manager at Beaconsfield gastropub The Greyhound. Rippon, who was the restaurant’s head waiter, will be responsible for managing the business alongside owners Daniel Crump and Margriet Vandezande-Crump. Andrius Prelgauskas, meanwhile, has been appointed head waiter. Both Rippon and Prelgauskas have previous experience at two Michelin-starred venues – Rippon at Moor Hall in Lancashire and Prelgauskas at Tom Kerridge's The Hand & Flowers.
Ludovic Simon has joined The Carlton Tower as its director of food and beverage. Simon joins the Knightsbridge hotel as it prepares to reopen following a £100m renovation. He will oversee new bar and dining concepts at hotel including a new destination restaurant and bar, and all-day lobby lounge and bar Chinoiserie. Simon has previously worked in Hyatt Hotels across the globe since 2005, including properties Cannes’ Hotel Martinez.
Rich Collie (pictured) has been appointed head of project management at fast-casual restaurant group German Doner Kebab. Collie joins from Nando’s and will manage the brand’s expansion plans throughout the UK. The company recently announced that it will have opened 12 new restaurants in the UK by the end of 2020, with plans to open 40 restaurants during 2021 and have 350 franchise units over the next seven years.
Hospitality and leisure business The Pepper Collective has appointed Paul Fleming as it managing director. Fleming joins from marketing consultancy SALT where he was previously Commercial Director. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s project pipeline of new restaurants.
