Vanessa Hall, the former brands operations director at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), is to join YO! Sushi in the newly created role for the chain of chief operating officer.
Hall, who will join YO! in September and work closely with chief executive Robin Rowland, left M&B earlier this year after 20 years with the managed operator.
She joined the company from BDO in 1992 and spent nearly eight years as its director of finance, before becoming brand operations director in November 2000. She was also responsible for c140 sites across M&B’s Premium Country Dining Group; Browns and Village Pub & Kitchen estates. Last year, she took on the group’s fledgling pan-Asian concept Tuk Cho.
During the last 12 years, the highly-regarded Hall has overseen the growth strategy, expansion and evolution of the three established brands, growing PCDG to over 80 sites and double the Browns estate, pushing both into new locations.
Hall’s appointment comes as James Fowler is to leave his position as finance director at YO! this July to take up the same role at Nando’s.
Alison Vickers, the chain’s business development director, will continue to head up its international growth, food development and marketing.
