People on the move in hospitality: November 2021

Mission Mars​

Hospitality group Mission Mars has announced a number of new appointments ahead of the opening of it latest Albert’s Schloss in Birmingham in December. Adin Memetovic has been appointed general manager; Jack Cinense head chef; Eleni Constantinou sales and events manager; and Nathanial Valentino entertainment manager. Memetovic’s previous roles include operations manager at The Alice and The Ivy, and general manager at PRYZM in Bristol. Cinense joins Albert’s Schloss from Gusto Italian where he was head chef following previous roles including head chef at Hickory Smokehouse and Grill on the Market and sous chef at Busaba in Covent Garden.

Jared King​

Jared King has taken the role of general manager at Marco Pierre White’s latest restaurant in London’s West End. King joins the Leicester Square restaurant from The Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch, and was previously GM at The Jazz Café in Camden. “I’m thrilled to have been appointed to what is such a high-profile venue. Marco Pierre White is revered across the hospitality sector and it’s an honour to have been appointed,” he says.

Frenchie Group​

London and Paris restaurant group Frenchie has promoted general manager Cyril Baligand to group operations director with Piotr Maruszczak named as its new general manager of Frenchie Covent Garden. France-born Baligand, who has worked at the flagship Covent Garden restaurant as general manager since 2018, will work across the Paris and London business alongside chef-patron Greg Marchand. He will oversee all Frenchie restaurants: Frenchie Covent Garden as well a Paris’ Frenchie sites Frenchie rue du Nil, Frenchie at Pigalle, Frenchie bar a vin, Frenchie to Go and the reopening of Frenchie Verbier with the Experimental Group in Switzerland. Baligand and Maruszczak worked together at Jun Tanaka at Pearl in 2011 and later at Tunaka’s The Ninth in Fitzrovia.

Tom Cenci​

Tom Cenci has been appointed head of food for 26 Grains at Neal’s Yard and its sister restaurant Stoney Street in Borough Market having previously operated a residency at the latter. Cenci, a former executive chef at Duck & Waffle, has also worked at 1 Lombard Street with Herbert Berger and with Joel Robuchon at the two Michelin starred Restaurant Laurent. His most recent project before joining Stoney Street was Loyal Tavern in Bermondsey Street where he headed up the kitchen, but which closed as a result of the pandemic.

Elisabete Tavares​

Tortilla has appointed Elisabete Tavares as its new head of people. Tavares has previously worked on a consultancy basis with businesses across the food, leisure and restaurant sectors including casual dining chain Tasty. Most recently she was head of people at Fulham Shore, owner of the Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurant brands, and prior to this she held roles at Wahaca and the Azzurri Group.

Federico Ciampi​

Federico Ciampi has been appointed general manager at 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel London in South Kensington. Ciampi has more than 10 years’ experience as a general manager of luxury hotels across the world and over 20 years’ experience in the industry and joins the Curio Collection by Hilton venue from his most recent position at The Mayfair Townhouse.

Sebastian Rast​

London Stock restaurant in Wandsworth has appointed Sebastian Rast as its new head chef. Rast, who previously worked at Above at HIDE in Piccadilly, will be in charge of creating the fine-dining restaurant’s seasonally changing lunch, dinner and eight-course tasting menus. Rast has held positions at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu in Fleet Street as well as Schwitzer’s Brasserie & Lounge, Schwitzer’s Hotel am Park and Gebrüder Otto Gourmet in Germany. London Stock, which is located within the restored listed Young’s brewery building was opened in July 2020 by Assem Abdel Hady and Andres Bernal. 

George Copeman​

George Copeman, founder of leisure property consultancy GC2 Property, has been appointed property director by ETM Group and Maven Leisure. Copeman has taken on the newly created role for both businesses - ETM Group, which operates 13 bars, pubs and restaurants in central London, and Maven Leisure, a new venture from ETM’s co-founder Ed Martin as well as Landen Prescott Brann and Graham Turner, that is looking to open at least seven bars in central London. ​

Alex McEwen​

Alex McEwen is the new general manager at Michael Caines’ Luxury Devon hotel and Michelin starred restaurant Lympstone Manor. McEwen’s career began as a management trainee within the Savoy Group before taking on management roles in London properties including the Blakes Hotel and Hazlitt’s Hotel. He later joined Gloucestershire’s Lower Mill Estate as operations manager before taking on the role of general manager at Wroxton House Hotel in Oxfordshire. Prior to joining Michael Caines he was most recently at Thurlestone Hotel in South Devon, and Rothschild Waddesdon, whose portfolio boutique hotel The Five Arrows Hotel and luxury wedding venue The Dairy in Buckinghamshire.