Prezzo promotes new CEO

Dean Challenger has been promoted to chief executive at Italian restaurant chain Prezzo, and Gwion Iwan to operations director.

Challenger (pictured) was previously chief operating officer of the company, having joined in 2018. He was initially appointed finance director before becoming chief operating officer last year. Iwan was previously central operations director as well as holding the North and West region for Prezzo after his promotion from senior operation manager. Before joining Prezzo in 2017, he was an operations manager for Punch Taverns and Premier Inn.

Executive chair Karen Jones will continue to work with the management team on longer-term strategy, brand, design, and the development of Prezzo's food and drink as well as supporting and coaching Prezzo's senior team and others within the business.

The transition follows the build-out of the management team over the past year with the earlier appointments of Matt Prior as chief financial officer and Olly Smith as chief culinary officer.

Jones said: "The development of talented Prezzo people is fast becoming a hallmark of our company. The promotion of Dean and Gwion, with whom I have worked so closely, gives me particular pleasure. Dean's ability to mobilise the organisation behind our strategic priorities is already proven and Gwion is a dynamic and thoughtful operator who will enable us to continue our journey forward with confidence, energy and pace."

Challenger said: "I am very confident that we have the team in place to move fast and decisively to realise our ambitious plans. We are building a brand where the quality of our food and drink is at the heart of everything we do and where every member of our team is aligned behind delivering an experience that ensures every customer leaves wanting to return."

Jonathan Goldstein, chief executive and founder of Cain International, which acquired the group in 2020, added: "Having been a senior leader in Prezzo since 2018 and supporting the business through the pandemic, Dean has an excellent understanding of who our customers are and what they want. With his keen focus on our commercial proposition, we have great confidence in his ability to build on our already strong trading success.

"Gwion's promotion is well deserved and reflects both his successful track record and his consistent demonstration of Prezzo's values, echoing the importance we place on an excellent customer experience.

"Prezzo continues to grow from strength to strength as a leading UK hospitality brand. With a highly able and talented senior team and the ongoing guidance of Karen as executive chair, we look forward to supporting its future flourishing."

Prezzo's prior chief executive was Jon Hendry-Pickup, who stood down in 2018 following the group's Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), with Jones appointed executive chair.