Arena's Ken Hanna appointed chairman of the Restaurant Group
Ken Hanna has been appointed chairman of the Restaurant Group (TRG) ahead of Debbie Hewitt standing down at the end of the year to pursue her new role as chairman of the English Football Association.
Hanna, currently chairman of Arena Events Group, will join the TRG board as a non-executive director on 1 December and will take on the role of chairman with effect from 1 January 2022.
His career has included chief financial officer roles with car hire group Avis Europe, United Distillers and confectionary company Cadbury, and he held chief financial and chief executive officer roles at tea brand Dalgety. He has been a non-executive for Tesco and chairman of car dealership Inchcape, Shooting Star Chase children's hospice charity and construction group RMD Kwikform.
He said: "I am delighted to be joining the TRG board. The short-term challenges facing the hospitality sector, including labour availability and supply chain issues, are well known, but TRG has a strong and experienced management team and an excellent range of brands, which have emerged stronger from the pandemic. I am very much looking forward to working with Andy Hornby and the wider management team to continue to position TRG for the long term."
Graham Clemett, senior independent director, who led the search said: "On behalf of the TRG board I would like to thank Debbie for the outstanding contribution she has made as chairman, successfully navigating the company through the various challenges of the last five years and also the invaluable personal support she has provided to all of us on the Board.
"We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ken Hanna as chairman to replace Debbie. Ken is a well-respected chairman with the right breadth of commercial and leadership experience to lead the TRG Board, and we are all looking forward to working with him."
TRG, which has a portfolio of brands including Wagamama, Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito, reported total revenues of £459.8m in its last financial results and a statutory loss before tax of £127.6m.
The group operates approximately 400 restaurants and pub restaurants throughout the UK and underwent a restructure last year, which saw it exit approximately 250 sites, including through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) that primarily affected the Frankie & Benny's brand. Its Chiquito and Food & Fuel brands fell into administration, although not all Chiquito restaurants closed.
