The Ivy Collection’s opening manager joins Carluccio’s

Carluccio’s has appointed Dominika Rusnak as its Fresca openings manager. She joins the group’s senior management team to support the brand’s ‘Fresca’ transformation programme.

The restaurant chain’s project Fresca will see the brand transform 20 sites under a £10m investment.

There have been a number of strategic hires to drive the £10m transformation programme, which started last month with the reopening of its Richmond restaurant. Carluccio’s recently brought in Graham Ford (from Bill’s) as its commercial director, Hilary Ansell (from Gordon Ramsay Group) as marketing director and Marco Barletta as operations manager (Franco Manco).

Rusnak joins Carluccio’s from The Ivy Collection, where she was senior openings manager. Prior to that, she worked for a number of casual dining restaurants groups including Strada and Pizza Express and four years ago, she was a general manager at Carluccio’s.

Carluccio’s CEO, Mark Jones, said:“I am delighted that our Fresca project has attracted talented quality operators to help us lead our transformation. Dominika returns to Carluccio’s having been a general manager in 2015 and, her familiarity with the brand combined with her experience with new openings, training and front of house, makes her integral to driving our new generation sites.”

Rusnak added: “With change comes opportunity and I am really excited to see the Fresca project roll out across the estate. It is not only the new look and menu that repositions Carluccio’s, but the service that customers receive. I am looking forward to enhancing this part of the business with the team.”