Fri 24th Jun 2022 - Former Vue International MD joins Jamie Oliver Group as CEO Former Vue International MD joins Jamie Oliver Group as CEO: The Jamie Oliver Group has appointed former Vue International managing director Kevin Styles as its new chief executive, starting in early July. Styles’ other previous roles included chief executive (Europe & UK) for American Golf; managing director at both Best Buy Europe and Kingfisher; and group marketing director at Thomas Cook. He will be responsible for the group’s global commercial strategy, managing partnerships with retailers, franchisees and content partners, and driving growth across all areas of the business – which includes 60-plus global outlets and a Jamie Oliver Cookery School in London. Styles will also be responsible for aligning commercial activity with the B Corp certified group’s social impact work and ethos. He said: “I have long admired how the Jamie Oliver Group marries its commercial and social ambitions. In today’s ever changing consumer landscape, brands are defined by their actions, and having clarity of purpose truly matters – especially in the world of food, which has so many touch points in people’s everyday lives. I’m honoured and excited to be joining the business and am very much looking forward to working alongside Jamie and the whole team to lead the commercial development and further build on the success the group has had to date.” Oliver added: “As a global food brand and B Corp, we know we have an important role to play in driving positive change across the wider industry, and partnering with progressive businesses who want to be part of the change and help their customers feed themselves and their loved ones well – now more so than ever. Kevin brings a wealth of experience from many industries to the role, and I really look forward to working with him to lead the business and our amazingly talented teams into our next important phase.” Oliver’s company, which operates the Jamie’s Italian and Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria concepts, opened ten new sites in 2021, ending the year with 60 restaurants with 13 partners in 21 countries. In April, it opened a Jamie’s Italian in Dubai Malls, the first of 12 international openings planned this year. Dubai Mall is the second restaurant opening for the group in partnership with Apparel, with a third Jamie's Italian to launch in Dubai Hills this summer. Oliver has continued to grow his international business, which is overseen by Ed Loftus, since the collapse of his UK restaurant arm in 2019. Earlier this year, Oliver shut his Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Moscow in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.