Chef Owner Adam Handling has just announced two new senior management appointments at the Adam Handling Restaurant Group.
Effective today, Tuesday 1 February, Handling has appointed George Hersey, previously Adam’s Group General Manager, as Restaurant Director and Andy Downton as Operations Director.
Hersey (pictured) has been promoted to Restaurant Director, having spent over a year in the role of Group General Manager. He originally joined the group in 2018 as General Manager of Handlings’s east London sites, before taking responsibility for all of the venues across London as Group General Manager.
Hersey was instrumental in the opening of Adam’s first venues outside of London, leading the opening team at The Loch & The Tyne and Ugly Butterfly, and also played a significant role in securing The Loch & The Tyne at number 27 (and Highest New Entry) in the Top 50 Gastropubs.
Hersey is at the forefront of Adam’s sustainable efforts within the group and is a strong advocate for sustainability across the industry as a whole.
Downton joins the group as Operations Director, bringing a wealth of experience from his time as an Operations Director and General Manager. He has worked with some of the UK’s leading restaurateurs and hospitality operators, including as General Manager at City Social and Restaurant Director at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s.
Downton has always been in admiration of the Adam Handling Restaurant Group and, working together on the Young Chef Young Waiter Competition gave Adam and Andy the opportunity to get to know each other better. Downton’s role will be to help grow the group, reporting directly to Executive Director, Nicola Gartenberg, and Handling.
Handling said, “I couldn’t be happier to announce the appointments of George and Andy. 2021 was a hugely exciting year for the group with the opening of two new venues, The Loch & The Tyne in Old Windsor and Ugly Butterfly in St. Ives, Cornwall and, as always, my group’s progression plans are extremely exciting.
'This step forward is just the start. They share my vision for the future and expansion of the group and are both extremely talented. Roll on 2022.”