Casual Dining Group (CDG), the leading UK restaurant group that operates Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas, has appointed Célia Pronto to the newly-created role of Chief Digital Officer.
A highly experienced change specialist, Pronto joins CDG from Ford Retail Group, where she was Marketing and E-commerce Director. In addition, during a consumer-focused business career that spans 20 years, Pronto has held senior positions at a host of blue-chip companies including InterContinental Hotels Group, Rank Group, STA Travel and Unilever.
CEO Steve Richards said, “We are delighted to have secured an individual of Célia’s calibre and experience to this new role. The board has given Célia a mandate to define and deliver a strategy that will establish CDG as the clear leader for integrated digital technologies in leisure and hospitality. This work will deliver competitive advantage to the group, enhanced communication and cohesion to our teams, and best-in-class experiences for our guests.”
Born in Mozambique, educated in South Africa, and a founding member and mentor of the London two percent club, Pronto said, “I’ll be looking to translate innovative digital trends and ideas into tangible products and processes for the group, and each of our businesses, as we drive digital adoption and change across both business functions and guest touchpoints. It’s an exciting, challenging brief, and one I’m already enjoying immensely.”