Human Resources

💸 Meghan Haugen has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Mediterranean fast-casual brand Pita Pit. With nearly 20 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Haugen will oversee Operations, Marketing, and Franchising. CEO Peter Riggs highlights her strategic vision and operational expertise, which are pivotal for the company's continued customer and franchisee growth. Haugen's focus will be on enhancing operational efficiencies and driving continuous improvement initiatives within Pita Pit’s franchise network.

📅 Mews appoints Michael Coscetta as president, leveraging his experience from Paxos and Compass. Virgin Hotels Collection names Johanna Kent Chief People Officer with 27 years in the field and Leo Rotshteyn Global Head of Revenue Management with over 30 years of experience. AutoCamp welcomes Bryan Terzi as CMO, who has over two decades of marketing experience and launched 12 hotels at Sage Hospitality. The Indigo Road Hospitality Group appoints Katharine Ames as CMO, previously their Director of Marketing since 2021. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows expands its team with Edward C. Braunlich as Managing Director, Yvette Kitagawa as Hotel Manager, and MaryAnn Blanchard as Director of Sales. Capella Hotel Group announces John Blanco and Ellen Franke as GMs for new Japan locations. Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort names Judd Rabbidge GM. Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger appoints Sootaga “So’o” Tana as GM for three properties. Sam Basu becomes AGM of Puerto Rico and GM of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan for Marriott International. Iconic Luxury Hotels names Samantha Rieu GM of two London hotels. The Newman hires Alex Drown as Director of Sales for its 2025 opening. Kessler brings on Angela Showley as VP of Marketing and Revenue. Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar welcome Kasidy DeWitt

📈 Katharine Ames has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Indigo Road Hospitality Group, after serving as Director of Marketing since 2021. Her previous roles include Vice President of Public Relations at Phase 3 Marketing & Communications and Media Relations Specialist at Huff & Co. Ames is based in Atlanta, reporting to Steve Palmer, the founder of Indigo Road established in 2009. The company, headquartered in Charleston, S.C., boasts 35 restaurants across 14 markets and operates six hotels.

🏨 Michael Coscetta appointed President of Mews, a hospitality cloud company in New York on 23 July. He oversees marketing, commercial, and customer success teams amid the company's growth. Coscetta's background includes roles at Paxos, Compass, and Square, with achievements such as preparing for Compass's 2021 IPO and scaling revenues to $2B. Mews, after a $110m funding round in March, employs 1,100 staff across 20 countries and has acquired HS3 Hotelsoftware.

🍴 Chef-owner Ryan Blackburn will not renew Kysty's lease, with its final service on July 26. He plans to open two new ventures in Ambleside: 'The Schelly,' a casual dining restaurant with 24+6 seats, and 'Workshop at The Old Stamp House,' a private dining space seating eight. Both are set to open mid-late August and will retain the Kysty team.

📢 Lost Boys Chicken, founded in 2015, closed its standalone restaurant on York Place due to post-Covid market shifts favoring home dining, economic pressures, and other challenges. Owner Tomas Samandi announced the closure as the hardest decision of his career and has relaunched the business at The Joker, its original pop-up location. Encouraging local support, Samandi suggests customers pick up orders instead of using delivery services to better benefit local businesses.

🍴 Sam Lomas, former River Cottage 'Rising Star' and Roux Scholarship finalist, is set to open Briar restaurant in early September at Number One Bruton in Somerset, a venue previously housing Osip. Briar will offer a daily changing menu focused on hyper-local produce, seasonal ingredients, and foraged offerings, including dishes like Westcombe gougeres and Berkshire pork chop with cider sauce. Osip, founded by Merlin Labron-Johnson, plans to relocate to Hardway in a renovated 16th-century inn.

🍴 Kyle Lynch named head chef at Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, located within Flemings Mayfair, in 2021. Previously at Adare Manor’s Michelin-starred Oak Room and Michelin-starred Ichigo Ichie, he now oversees the British five- and seven-course tasting menus at the newly-starred restaurant. Ormer Mayfair by Sofian earned its first Michelin star earlier this year.

💸 Anny Zhang appointed CEO of JLL China, effective September, based in Shanghai. Joined JLL in 2007, promoted to managing director for East China in 2021 and China Leasing business head in 2023. Roger Baker transitions from CFO to Chief Investment Officer and Advisor at First Hospitality after 40 years in real estate, 16 with the company. Matt Schuster new CFO, previously with Club Quarters Hotels for over 5 years. Paul Sacco joins PM Hotel Group as Chief Growth and Development Officer, bringing 30+ years of hospitality experience; previously with Mint House and Driftwood Capital. Phil Cordell of Hilton to retire as Global Category Head of Lifestyle and New Brands after 40 years, transitioning to advisor role in July; Kevin Osterhaus to succeed him. Marci Jacobs becomes VP of Sales and Revenue Generation at McNeil Hotel Company, with 25+ years in the industry. Stacy Royalty promoted to Regional VP of Operations at McKibbon Hospitality. Walter Peseski named Senior VP, Asset Management at Garfield Public/Private LLC. The St. Regis Chicago hires Erik Grazetti as Director of Sales and Marketing. Hotel Equities promotes Jack Meakin to VP of Business Development, Alexis Stevens to Director of Talent Development, and Brody Aarhaus to Regional Director of Business Development. Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. appoints Tiffany Rioux as Director of Sales and Marketing, Nisha Patel

🍳 Chef Chloe Coscarelli, formerly of By Chloe, is opening a new vegan restaurant, CHLOE, in New York City at 185 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village. By Chloe began in 2014, but after a 2017 legal dispute with ESquared Hospitality and CEO James Haber, Coscarelli was forced out. By Chloe filed for bankruptcy in December 2020, was acquired and renamed Beatnic in 2021, and sold again to Inday in December 2023. CHLOE offers vegan classics and operates Tuesday-Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.