Javed Akhtar has stepped down as operations director of Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) after nearly five years in the role to take up the same position at the Franco Manca, the Fulham Shore-owned, David Page-led chain, MCA has learnt.
Akhtar had been with GBK for nearly 10 years and was previously an operations manager at the chain. He helped the business grow from 10 sites to its current c70-strong estate.
He is re-united at Franco Manca with Page and Nabil Mankarious, who he replaced as operations director at GBK.
He will be tasked at Franco Manca with building on its existing pipeline of openings, which will see the group expand from 20 sites to 27 by the end of this summer.
The group recently opened its twentieth site in Guildford.
New restaurants are being built Brighton (May), Tooting Market (June), Muswell Hill Broadway (June), Bromley (June), Kilburn High Road (July).
Sites have also been signed in Putney High Street and the Nova Victoria development.
Page recently said that a number of further sites are under negotiation however “we tread slowly – we sometimes sign sites but do not develop them immediately”.
