Yishay Malkov, one of the key driving forces behind the development and expansion of the Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed group, has left the business, MCA has learnt.
Malkov, the former restaurant director of Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s and general manager at Roka Restaurants, joined the Ivy Collection in May 2014 and as its executive operations director played a key part in growing the business into a national presence.
The group currently operates 24 sites, with several more restaurants in its pipeline for this year. MCA understands that under Malkov’s direction the business is on target to produce annual EBITDA of c£20m, with turnover already nudging over the £100m-mark.
It is thought that Malkov is currently looking at further opportunities in the sector.
MCA reported last month that serial sector investor Caring had hired Sarah Hills, formerly managing director of Wagamama UK, to aid the continued growth of his current restaurant concepts and the development of new ones.
Hills stepped down from Wagamama at the end of last year after 17 years with the Duke Street Capital-backed business
It is understood that Hills will work directly in Caring’s private office on special projects, plus assist with the growth of Ivy Collections and new concept Harry’s Dolci, which launched in Knightsbridge at the start of December.
It is thought she will also oversee the possible development of new concepts out of Caring’s current Caprice Holdings estate, plus one off projects.
Graham Hall, the former managing director of CAU, who also headed up the restaurant division at Ennismore, worked with Caring last year in a similar role before leaving to explore other projects in the sector.
Caring has acquired the site currently housing La Tasca on James Street, for the second Harry’s Dolci. It is thought that Caring is looking for Harry’s to be another rollout vehicle but is also looking at the possibility of opening other concepts derived from his existing restaurants.
The Ivy Collection currently operates 26 sites, with further openings planned in Exeter, Dublin, Canary Wharf, Glasgow, Cardiff, Leeds and Oxford.
