Andres Gonzalez

Senior multi-site restaurant and hospitality operator with 20+ years of leadership experience across the UK and GCC. Proven record leading large restaurant portfolios, multi-brand operations and high-performing management teams, with full P&L accountability up to £177M and oversight of 3,000+ employees. Experienced in area and regional-style leadership across operational standards, restaurant performance, people development, commercial optimisation, cost control, new openings, succession planning and performance improvement.

Combines hands-on operational leadership with strong financial discipline, KPI management and stakeholder communication.

Managing Director at Conceptional B.V. (2024-01 – Present)

• Provide operational, strategic, creative and management advisory across F&B, hospitality in multiple settings, to support operational optimisation, growth strategies and portfolio master planning.
• Advise leadership teams on governance, capital allocation, commercial performance and scalable operating models.
• Representative engagements include Dubai Holding, Aldar, SEVEN, Alamar Foods.

Operations Director at Americana Restaurants (2017-01 – 2019-12)

• Directed a 206-restaurant Pizza Hut portfolio across multiple markets, with full P&L accountability of £177M and leadership oversight of 3,000+ employees.
• Delivered sustained EBITDA growth through margin optimisation, cost discipline, KPI management and stronger operational performance across the restaurant portfolio.
• Strengthened financial controls, forecasting accuracy, KPI governance, operational performance reviews and senior stakeholder reporting.
• Led capital planning and approval for 20 new restaurant openings, balancing growth with disciplined investment.
• Led the transition from call-centre ordering to an app-based hybrid home-delivery ecosystem.
• Developed the regional leadership bench, management capability and succession framework to strengthen leadership depth and continuity.

General Manager at Landmark Group (2015-01 – 2017-12)

• Led a 130-restaurant, multi-brand, multi-market fast casual and QSR portfolio with full P&L accountability of £18M.
• Delivered 4% LFL EBITDA growth through commercial optimisation and pricing strategy.
• Executed a financial turnaround, improving unit economics and cost structure.
• Strengthened KPI governance, site performance reporting and accountability across the portfolio.
• Led disciplined capital deployment for 17 new restaurant openings.

Senior Operations Manager at Kout Food Group (2010-01 – 2015-12)

• Oversaw a 15-restaurant, multi-brand, multi-market portfolio with full P&L accountability of £7M.
• Delivered 5% LFL EBITDA growth through operational and commercial improvement.
• Enhanced financial forecasting, margin controls, KPI performance management and commercial discipline across the portfolio.
• Led capital planning for 10 new site openings.

Founder at Hospitality Lab UAE/UK (2019-01 – 2024-12)

• Provide advisory and on-site support across F&B, hospitality, and events, to deliver operational optimisation, profitability initiatives, team curation and growth strategies.
• Representative engagements include Expo 2020, Yolk Brands and Dives Holding.

Founder at The Harvest.ae (2017-01 – 2022-12)

• Founded and scaled an integrated online grocery and food production platform to £1.4M annual revenue.
• Designed commercial and working-capital frameworks, procurement governance, cost controls and scalable operating processes.

M.A. in Cultural Studies & Art History – University of Glasgow (1997-01 – 2001-12)

Diploma in Business Management – University of Virginia (2013-01 – 2014-12)

Certification in Strategic Leadership for Hospitality – Cornell University (2018-01 – 2019-12)

Certification in Strategic Negotiation – Yale University (2023-01 – 2023-12)