Thomas Franks appoints David Mulcahy as international chef director

David Mulcahy has been appointed international chef director at Thomas Franks.

He joins the family-owned caterer with more than 35 years’ industry experience, having recently served as food innovation and sustainability director at Sodexo, where he was based for almost 20 years.

Mulcahy is also vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, director of UK National and Young National Chef of the Year programmes, and national chair of Springboard’s FutureChef competition.  

In September 2025, he was named consultant ESG partnership director at independent catering company Fuelling Minds.

Mulcahy will start his role at Thomas Franks from August.

He said: "I’m delighted to be joining Thomas Franks at such an exciting stage in its journey. The business has a clear vision for growth and, importantly, a set of values that closely align with my own.

“What particularly stands out is the commitment to local sourcing, preparing and serving exceptional food while supporting farmers, producers and independent suppliers across the world. It’s a business that genuinely believes great food can improve people’s lives while caring for the environment.

"I’m looking forward to meeting colleagues from across the business and continuing to deliver outstanding experiences for clients and customers."

Gavin Young, chief culinary officer at Thomas Franks, added: “David brings a wealth of experience, a genuine passion for people and a commitment to innovation. His deep love of food and easy-going nature make him the perfect addition to our team. As we continue to grow internationally, David’s experience and leadership will strengthen our culinary proposition and support our teams across the world. We’re delighted to welcome him to the Thomas Franks family.”

Thomas Franks achieved B Corp certification in April, joining the likes of Green & Fortune, Lettice Events and Houston & Hawkes.