Robin Rowland, the chief executive of YO! Sushi, and Andrew Guy, the former chief executive of Ed’s Easy Diner, have been included in the New Year’s Honours list.
Rowland, who has led YO! Sushi as chief executive and chairman over the last 15 years, has been made an OBE for services to the restaurant and hospitality industry
Guy, who stepped down as chief executive of Ed’s earlier this year and is currently chairman of the Coaching Inn Group, has been made a MBE for services to the hospitality industry and charity.
Guy has more than 30 years of experience operating pub, food and restaurant chains across Europe and the US.
He held chief executive and senior board roles with Autogrill, Gourmet Holdings, City Centre Restaurants, My Kinda Town and 1776 Revolutionary Restaurants. His career in the F&B sector began with Berni Inns Group where he was a graduate trainee and area manager.
Rowland, who previously worked under Guy at The Restaurant Group, stepped back into the chief executive role at YO! earlier this year after its £81m acquisition by Mayfair Equity Partners.
Rowland, who started out at Whitbread Inns as a graduate trainee pubs area manager in 1984, joined YO! when the business operated four London restaurants. It now operates over 90 restaurants including five in the US.
He is also a non-executive director of Caffe Nero, Marston’s and Tortilla.
