Gusto Italian appoints new chief operating officer

Gusto Italian, the casual dining restaurant group, has announced the appointment of Scott Grimbleby as its new chief operating officer (COO) to “drive expansion and growth as the business seeks to open in more locations across the UK”.

Grimbleby joins from Living Ventures and replaces Tim Selby, who is leaving to pursue opportunities outside of the group.

Founded in Cheshire in 2005, Gusto Italian has almost 600 employees and opened its most recent site in Nottingham in late 2021.

Matt Snell, CEO, said: “Scott is a brilliant operator with fantastic experience of operating in the premium hospitality space. He brings a track record of delivering sales growth at established restaurant businesses as well as successfully launching and building new businesses, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Gusto Italian family.

“At the same time, we would like to sincerely thank Tim for his hard work and dedication to Gusto Italian. We wish him well in the new ventures that lie ahead.”

Grimbleby added: “I’ve admired Gusto Italian for some time, and Matt and the team have done a great job creating a brand which really stands out in a crowded Italian casual dining sector.

“I’m thrilled to be joining a thriving business which is outperforming the market, growing its estate and delivering outstanding service, and can’t wait to get stuck into this exciting new role.”