The Azzurri Group, operator of Zizzi and Coco di Mama, has appointed Harry Heeley, formerly of the National Trust, as the new managing director of its ASK Italian brand, M&C understands.
Heeley, who will join the 112-strong brand later in the quarter, has spent over seven years at the National Trust, including the last four and a half as its hospitality director.
It is understood that he has played a significant role in the Trust improving the commercial side of its business and forging strong commercial relationships with brands such as Cadbury.
Heeley, who will report into Azzurri chief executive Steve Holmes, replaces Jason Thomas, who stepped down as managing director last summer.
Last year, the company announced it would look to add 20 new sites to its estate going forward, split between six to eight new ASKs; six to eight new Zizzis and six to eight Coco di Mamas.
The company opened four new ASK sites during its last financial year, taking its total to 112 and Holmes said that it would look to accelerate its focus on opening premium sites in city centres. He said: “We have more ASKs in the pipeline than we have ever done.”
Holmes previously said that he believed there was scope to operate up to 250 sites under the ASK brand in the UK. He said: “It is an extremely competitive sector but the potential is there for the brand. When I joined Gondola it had c200 PizzaExpress now it stands at c450, so there is scope to grow from the current mark to 250.”
