D&D London, the restaurant group led by Des Gunewardena, has appointed two new directors as its gears up for further expansion, including the opening of its first hotel.
The group, which has 30 restaurants in London, Paris, Copenhagen, New York and Tokyo, has appointed Anna Hedges as director of sales and Amanda Dobinson as director of marketing.
Hedge, who was group director of sales for the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin chains, will be responsible for generating new business opportunities and expanding the company’s business within existing markets.
Dobinson, who was previously retail marketing director at Polo Ralph Lauren, will have responsibility for the group’s marketing and communication.
D&D is to launch a 100-cover cafe this summer at the Royal Exchange in the City to compliment its existing restaurant at the venue - Restaurant Sauterelle and Royal Exchange Grand Café.
It is also set to launch two restaurants at the £350m Trinity Leeds shopping and leisure development, at a reported cost of more than £3m.
The move, which is D&D’s first venture outside of London, will see the restaurants open in spring 2013 at the Land Securities development, occupying 12,000 square feet on the two upper floors of a new building adjacent to the main retail complex.
The group, formerly known as Conran Restaurants, is also developing a £50m hotel in Moorgate in the City of London as part of plans to return to the sector with the launch of a small chain of boutique hotels.
The 80-room luxury hotel at South Place will feature a bar and grill on the ground floor and a rooftop restaurant and bar on the seventh floor, with the opening scheduled for 2012.
Chief executive Gunewardena, said: “The next two years are an exciting time for D&D with further restaurant expansion and the opening of our first hotel in 2012.
“I am delighted to welcome both Anna and Amanda to our team. They both have excellent backgrounds and I believe that they will each make a big contribution to D&D’s future.”
