Head of operations at Gordon Ramsay Holdings to leave

Gillian Thomson, head of operations at Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), is leaving the multi-Michelin-starred restaurant group after eight years, Caterersearch can reveal.

The move, which was first reported by Kitchen Rat last week, sees Scottish-born Thomson leave GRH at the end of this month to join contract caterer Company of Cooks as managing director.

Company of Cooks runs the catering operations at a number of London visitor attractions including Greenwich Park, the Imperial War Museum and Kensington Gardens.

Thomson joined GRH in 2001 and has helped grow the company from two restaurants, employing 70 staff, to a global business with 23 restaurants on four continents.

She has been involved in 26 openings and has been instrumental in implementing the company's support system of head office and back of house functions.

Thomson said: "I have had an amazing eight years and been given so much opportunity and the chance to really grow and develop both the role within the company and at the same time myself."

However, she added that the time had come for her "to seek the next personal challenge".

GRH chief executive Chris Hutcheson said Thomson had become "an icon" in the company whom he considered a founding member.

"Her leaving would have been a hammer blow had she not already put together a team that will continue her way of working, her thoroughness and her dedication," he said.

Separately, Mark Sargeant, head chef at Gordon Ramsay's Michelin-starred restaurant at Claridges, has left his position. He continues to be involved in the group's three London pubs.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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