Nisha Katona promotes Lucy Worth to Mowgli chief exec

Lucy Worth has been made chief executive of Mowgli, the Indian street food group founded by Nisha Katona in 2014.

Katona told The Caterer that she would remain founder director and executive chef as well as brand and design lead for restaurants, but that Worth would be promoted from chief operating officer and charged with protecting and promoting the business.

Mowgli has been backed by Trispan, which also holds a majority stake in Rosa’s Thai and Pho, since 2023. The group has grown to 26 sites from its roots in Liverpool, to include restaurants in  Brighton, Bristol and Edinburgh.

Katona said: “For her trajectory and success, I am indebted beyond words to my executive siblings, Lucy Worth COO and Matt Peck CFO and my extraordinary teams, who are the grafting face and hands of Mowgli.

“We have weathered many storms in the restaurant industry and it’s the challenge that the three of us love best, it’s what makes the work interesting and makes us build Mowgli better.”

She added: “Mowgli was born with one aim in mind. To enrich lives in the cities we go to starting with our people. We have a maternal management model and Lucy’s lengthy tenure in the boot rooms and board rooms of the hospitality industry means she will become that most excellent, and practical of matriarchs.”

Worth has worked with Katona for six years, having joined from Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group. Prior to that she was operations director at Byron.

Katona said: “We share the same vision and I have no doubt in her ability to protect and promote all that Mowgli stands for.

“It is an exciting new era for Mowgli as we grow steadily, innovate excitedly and begin our international journey with Mowgli Dublin.”