Tue 3rd Nov 2015 - Alex Dawson hired to run Soho House’s restaurant division Alex Dawson hired to run Soho House’s restaurant division: Former Greene King head of franchise operations Alex Dawson has been hired to oversee the operation and expansion of Soho House’s restaurant division, Rollout Restaurants, which contains Pizza East, Chicken Shop, Dirty Burger, Farmshop as well as other new concepts. Dawson said: “I will be responsible for overseeing the expansion and day-to-day operations of all the businesses as well as working on other new concepts. The immediate plan is to strengthen each of the operating formats ready for further growth within London, but with eyes on national expansion.” Dawson was previously responsible for overseeing Greene King’s Pub Partners franchise division with a focus on the Local Hero concept, which is set to open its 50th site in early 2016. Local Hero pubs’ focus is on locally-sourced food and the best cask ales in the area and has generated company leading returns on investment and like-for-like growth for the business for the past few years. Dawson added: “I am very excited to be joining such a prestigious business as Soho House. In Rollout Restaurants I am joining a division that has shown huge growth over the past 12 months and has ambitions to continue this with the evolution of some very exciting concepts. I am impressed by Soho House’s commitment to quality, design and passion for each of their businesses. My job will be to build off these platforms to strengthen each of the concepts ready for further roll-out across London and the UK. There is a continuing change in the way we eat out and this looks set to continue through 2016 and beyond. Soho House and Rollout Restaurants are well-placed to take advantage of the growth in ‘fast casual’ as our hunger to eat and be out of home grows ever more. Soho House’s desire to make things happen and having a good time will be integral to the ethos of Rollout Restaurants, the staff who work there and the customers that visit them.” In March this year, Soho House Group sold a 50% stake in the Pizza East, Chicken Shop and Dirty Burger casual dining restaurant brands to an unnamed private investor. The sale agreement related to the three existing brands in all territories, excluding the Americas. The disposal valued the restaurant brands at an enterprise value of £33m. In addition, Soho House Group and the investor have each agreed to provide £5m funding in the near term to accelerate the roll-out of the three restaurant brands. The new joint venture will also be offered the opportunity to invest in new casual dining restaurant concepts created by Soho House.