Simon Titchener has joined Aramark UK in what is thought to herald a shake-up in the ranks of the contract caterer's senior management.
He joins as managing director for London, where he will oversee the development of Aramark's food service contracts.
Titchener is a former managing director of Restaurant Associates, Compass Group's fine-dining division.
He left that role after the departure of chief executive Patrick Dempsey in May. Titchener had been tipped by some to take over from Dempsey, but instead the post was split in two and Titchener took on the title of business development director at Compass.
His arrival at Aramark is understood to be part of a re-organisation of the senior management team, details of which are expected to be unveiled next week.