Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant group recruits ex-Leon heavyweight as new CFO as chef pursues growth

Gordon Ramsay's eponymous restaurant group revealed on Monday that it has hired former Leon finance chief, Antony Perring, as its CFO.

Perring, who was financial director at Wagamama between 2006 and 2014 before being poached by Leon in 2015, oversaw the healthy fast food chain's expansion around the UK.

The finance heavyweight joins the Gordon Ramsay Restaurant group as it pursues an "ambitious global expansion".

The group, which recently launched five new sites, promises a further 10 venue openings in the UK by summer.

Ramsay launched his 'street concept' venues around London this year, as well as an upmarket burger joint, Gordon Ramsay Burger, inside Harrods.

The new restaurants, Street Burger and Street Pizza, are dotted around the capital from Borough Market to Kensington and Camden. Both launched with £15 opening meal offers.

Making the announcement on the day hospitality reopened for indoor service for the first time in months, the chef, 54, said: “Despite all of the pandemic related challenges, we have to be optimistic and forward thinking and invest back into our amazing industry.

"We have an incredibly ambitious global growth strategy, and I’m delighted to have Antony on the team to help drive our future expansion plans."

Perring said: "I'm extremely excited to be joining the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants team as the sector emerges from lockdown. 

"Our planned new restaurant openings will enable the business to accelerate its growth, boosting employment in the sector and advancing existing and new landlord relationships."