Italian restaurant group Pesto appoints managing director

Former Mission Mars director of operations Menesh Modhwadia has joined Pesto restaurant group to oversee its "aggressive growth strategy".

Sara and Neil Gatt founded the Italian restaurant group in 2006 and have since grown it to 10 sites, nine of which are in converted pubs across the Midlands and the north-west of England. The group plans to continue expanding through converting former pub venues.

Pesto chief executive Neil Gatt, also a co-founder of the La Tasca Spanish tapas brand, said: "We are delighted to announce that Menesh will be joining our business and that he will oversee an aggressive growth strategy that we have planned for the business.

"We are very excited about the future, and we are looking forward to working with Menesh, who will bring energy, fresh ideas and leadership to our talented and committed Pesto family."