Restaurant group D&D London's co-founder and chief executive Des Gunewardena (pictured left) has announced that he is leaving the company, after a 16 year tenure. Gunewardena’s co-founder and chief operating officer David Loewi will step in to run the business as interim CEO.
Gunewardena and Loewi founded D&D London in 2006 - the pair worked together at Conran Restaurants, and bought a majority stake in the business, subsequently rebranding the group as D&D London. The restaurant group has built on Sir Terence Conran’s iconic portfolio - including the likes of Orrery, Bibendum and Quaglino’s - with a clutch of new restaurants, from riverside French restaurant Le Pont de la Tour, to Francesco Mazzei’s chic Italian restaurant Sartoria.
The group has also opened restaurants in Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, and is due to open Orelle - a high rise restaurant and cocktail bar, on the 24th floor of Birmingham’s 103 Colmore Row.
Gunewardena said: ‘I am very sad to be leaving D&D which I love and have seen grow from its first restaurant opening over 30 years ago in its Conran days to the fabulous business it is today.
‘Though I will now be focusing on existing and new ventures outside D&D I wish David and the management team every success for the future.’
Loewi will continue to lead D&D London in the meantime, adding: ‘Our restaurants are trading well as the UK leisure and hospitality scene recovers with workers returning to offices and business travel coming back. This resilience has enabled our group to retain a strong cash position and financial headroom.
'However, we are also acutely aware of the challenging economic environment, particularly for our industry in the face of inflation and skills shortages, and so remain pragmatic over the outlook for the sector and continuously keep our operations and strategy under review.
'Des has been an important part of D&D London's success and history, and we wish him all the best for the future.’
In other news, Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam is closing his Birmingham restaurant - read more about that story here.