Hospitality’s Leadership Momentum
It’s been a while since the hospitality sector felt this alive. After several years of navigating cost pressures, labour shortages, and unpredictable trading conditions, something new is stirring, leadership confidence. Across restaurants, hotels, and leisure brands, we’re seeing a clear uptick in senior hiring. And not just replacements, but genuinely strategic appointments designed to take brands forward.
Recent Moves Worth Noting
In recent months, several high-profile hires have reshaped the leadership landscape:
- Gaucho has appointed Martin Bishop FCCA as Finance Director, bringing experience from Rileys Sports Bars and The Restaurant Group. His arrival signals a renewed focus on commercial rigour as the business continues to expand its premium dining offer.
- Mohari Hospitality has brought in Yavuz Pehlivanlar, formerly of Caprice Holdings, as Chief Executive to lead Hakkasan Group — now the umbrella for Hakkasan, Yauatcha, Ling Ling, and Sake No Hana. It’s a major move for the luxury dining space, uniting four international brands under one leadership vision.
- TeamSport Indoor Go Karting, the UK’s biggest indoor karting operator, has named Gavin Adair as Chief Executive following his seven-year tenure at Rosa’s Thai and prior leadership at Wahaca. It’s an inspired appointment, bringing food-and-beverage discipline to the fast-growing leisure-experience market.
Elsewhere, Honest Burgers promoted Matt Brandon from CFO to CEO, ensuring leadership continuity as it scales its nationwide footprint, and Kew Green Hotels welcomed David Taylor as CEO, highlighting fresh investment and confidence in the hotel sector.
Even at industry level, UKHospitality restructured its leadership, with Kate Nicholls OBE stepping up to Chair and Allen Simpson becoming CEO — a move that reinforces the sector’s maturity and the need for experienced voices guiding its recovery.
Brands are prioritising leadership calibre, cross-sector expertise, and financial discipline. We’re seeing more movement between casual dining, leisure, and premium experiences, as businesses value transferable skills in scaling, guest experience, and operational transformation.
It’s also notable that many hires bring backgrounds in multi-site operations and investor-backed environments, suggesting operators are preparing for growth rounds, new concepts, and potential acquisitions. The leadership market has become more fluid, and more ambitious, than it’s been in years.
For recruiters, that’s an excellent sign. For candidates, it’s an invitation to be strategic.
For Senior Candidates: How to Position Yourself for the Next Move
If you’re a senior leader in hospitality — whether in finance, operations, marketing, or general management, the market is active, but selective. Businesses are hiring carefully, with greater emphasis on cultural fit, adaptability, and commercial maturity. Here are some high-level insights and practical advice from our work at Consumer Exec:
1. Articulate Your Value Beyond the P&L
The strongest candidates now go beyond numbers and headcount. They can talk about transformation, how they’ve led through change, shaped culture, or improved guest experience while maintaining profitability. Be ready to show both operational control and strategic impact.
2. Think Cross-Sector, Not Linear
The sector is converging. Hospitality brands are borrowing from retail, leisure, and even wellness. If you’ve led multi-site operations or scaled a consumer brand, those skills translate. Don’t limit yourself to “restaurant only” or “hotel only” searches; leadership agility is the new specialism.
3. Understand the Investor Mindset
Many mid-market operators are now PE-backed or gearing up for funding. Boards want leaders who can work alongside investors, understanding performance metrics, capital structure, and growth returns. If you’ve worked with investment partners, make that story clear.
4. Lead with Self-Awareness
Post-pandemic, leadership tone matters more than ever. The best CEOs, MDs, and FDs we see are emotionally intelligent, transparent, and collaborative. They’re not just managing; they’re motivating teams through uncertainty and creating cultures where people actually want to stay.
5. Partner with the Right Search Specialist
At Consumer Exec, we work exclusively within consumer-facing sectors, hospitality, leisure, retail, and F&B, which means we understand the rhythm of these businesses and the leadership DNA that drives them.
We help senior professionals navigate the market strategically: advising on positioning, salary benchmarking, and how to build visibility among founder-led and investor-backed operators. Whether you’re seeking your next permanent role or exploring a fractional or interim leadership path, we’ll give you an honest view of where your skills align and how to stand out.
A Confident Future
There’s something quietly optimistic about what’s happening in hospitality right now. New leaders are being appointed, legacy brands are repositioning, and the investment community is leaning back in.
If you’re a senior leader ready to explore that next move, or a brand looking to secure proven talent for your next phase of growth, Consumer Exec is here to help, connecting ambitious people with the businesses shaping the future of hospitality.
Pairing future skills with the Food & Beverage industry
We are one of the leading search firms specialising in the food and beverage industry. We have an in-depth knowledge of this dynamic sector and pride ourselves on connecting top-tier talent with visionary businesses. Our extensive experience spans innovative start-up brands, through to large-scale global companies, ensuring that we meet the unique needs of each client we are partnering with.
Our Expertise
At Consumer Exec we understand that the food and beverage industry demands a delicate balance of creativity, operational excellence, and market insight. Our dedicated team of consultants brings a wealth of industry knowledge, leveraging their expertise to identify and attract leaders who can drive success in a highly competitive market. We are passionate about matching exceptional talent with organisations that share our commitment to innovation, diversity and quality.