Experienced hospitality industry expert Andy Dempster joined GJC Advisory as a senior consultant, and due to continued success in the sector, has recently been promoted to associate director of hospitality. Dempster will have the primary responsibility for expanding the newly formed hospitality team that will see experts from finance, marketing and operations joining forces to help growing businesses succeed in 2023.
Dempster joined GJC with a wealth of experience from some of the industry best known companies; TRG (The Restaurant Group) whose brands include the likes of Wagamama, Brunning & Price and Frankie & Benny’s. He headed up Operations at Busaba Eathai and most recently as the managing director of Neighbourhood Group, and now NED at Romet Group, where he has been responsible for the development of the FIGO Italian neighbourhood.
He will be responsible for building a dedicated hospitality team that will bring together experts from within the industry, covering hotels, specialist spa’s, restaurants, bars and other food and beverage outlets. The dedicated team already includes Martin Ridgeway, a finance director with significant experience in the bar, club and live music sector; Laura Di Bonaventura, a marketing director specialising in the industry and GJC’s CEO Gavin Jones having previously worked at the likes of Whitbread and Travelodge and oversaw a multi-million pound, venture capital investment in a well-known hotel group.
GJC’s hospitality team will offer a full turnaround support package that includes all aspects from re-structuring and re-financing through to operational improvement, senior management recruitment, employee development and growth through mergers, acquisitions. This team is perfectly placed to help hospitality businesses not just ‘survive’ but to ‘thrive’ as well.
Commenting on the completion of the hospitality team, GJC CEO Gavin Jones said: “ Andy has been integral to our sector growth in such a short time. Through his actionable insights and sector experience we have attracted new clients, and are in discussion with leading Hospitality groups across the UK. Andy has really spearheaded this division and we are thrilled to promote him to this senior role.”
