People on the move in hospitality: August 2019

Trivet​

Two further alumni of Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck have joined the team at Trivet,​ ​the London restaurant from Jonny Lake and Isa Bal opening this autumn. Michele Stanco, former pastry and later sous chef at The Fat Duck, has been named as head chef (pictured above, second from left). Australian Melissa Fergus (also above), who met the team during The Fat Duck's temporary relocation to Melbourne in 2015, will be restaurant manager. Trivet will open in London's Bermondsey this autumn. 

Judy Joo​

Chef Judy Joo has confirmed she has left Jinjuu,​​ the Korean restaurant she opened in London's Soho in early 2015. The Korean American chef, formerly a judge on Iron Chef UK, says she is "looking forward to the next chapter" and will announce further plans in the near future.

Ry Jessup​

Homeslice Pizza founder Ry Jessup has left the restaurant business​ ​after eight years. ​Jessup founded the now six-strong restaurant group in 2011 as a mobile wood-fired oven. Brothers Mark and Alan Wogan, sons of the late Sir Terry Wogan, came on board later and helped Homeslice open its debut bricks and mortar site in Neal's Yard in 2013. Jessup is now working as a freelance chef and restaurant consultant.

Craig Rogan​

The son of high-profile chef Simon Rogan has been named executive chef at the Dakota hotel​​ in Leeds. Craig Rogan has over 12 years of experience in fine dining, and has previously cooked at a number of his father's restaurants including L'Enclume and Fera at Claridges. He was most recently head chef at The Grand Hotel in York, during which time the hotel restaurant regained 3 AA Rosettes following a redesign of the menu.

Robin Rowland​

Robin Rowland is to step down from the board ​at Japanese food group YO! after a 20-year tenure. He joined YO! in 1999 and was chief executive until 2017, during which time the business grew from three London restaurants to a global brand serving over 10m customers a year. Rowland will now focus on his other numerous roles, which include sitting on the board of Cafe Nero and being an operating partner and chairman at TriSpan private equity, which backs Thunderbird fried chicken and Rosa's Thai Cafe. 

Forest Side​

Kevin Tickle has stepped down as head chef at the Michelin-starred Forest Side restaurant in Cumbria. He plans to take some time out to spend with his family before embarking on new projects. Replacing him in the role will be Paul Leonard, who will join in November from The Burlington at Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey, which ranked 46th in the 2019 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.

Aaron Potter​

Petersham Nurseries has appointed Aaron Potter as head chef at La Goccia, the Italian-inspired restaurant at its Covent Garden site. He has previously worked at Adam Byatt's Trinity in Clapham, working his way up to senior sous chef and helping to run the kitchen when the site won its Michelin star in 2016. Potter plans to create a refreshed nose-to-tail menu at La Goccia, in a new direction for the restaurant.

Phil Yeomans​

Luxury country house hotel Lainston House has appointed Phil Yeomans as executive chef. He was previously head chef at the property for seven years from 2005-14. Yeomans has over two decades of experience in the industry, having worked at The Dorchester, Soho House and the Coral Beach Club in Bermuda.