wagamama, the UK’s Japanese-inspired restaurant chain, has appointed David Campbell as CEO. David has extensive experience across the leisure industry having held the position of CEO for the past 20 years in sports, entertainment and media businesses, and will join wagamama in early September 2013.
David most recently worked in Formula One, as Group Board Director and Managing Director of Allsport, which is globally responsible for all Formula One advertising, sponsorship, hospitality and merchandising. Prior to that, David was President and CEO of AEG Europe, a privately owned leader in live entertainment, where David led the transformation of London’s Millennium Dome into The O2. Other previous CEO roles include: Visit London, Ginger Media Group, Virgin Radio and Virgin TV Europe, and Executive Vice Chairman of The Ministry of Sound.
David Williams, Chairman of wagamama, commented:
“I am delighted to welcome David as the CEO of wagamama. His proven leadership and his experience developing some of the UK’s biggest leisure brands will be invaluable as we continue to expand wagamama both in the UK as well as in other global markets. David is an entrepreneurial and motivated leader, with a very strong commercial focus, and we look forward to working with him at this important stage in wagamama’s development.”
About wagamama:
wagamama is a Japanese-inspired restaurant chain combining fresh and nutritious food with friendly service and value for money. With the opening of its first restaurant in London’s Bloomsbury in 1992, wagamama unleashed a new dining experience in the UK. Today wagamama has restaurants in 17 countries, including 94 restaurants in the UK.
wagamama was acquired by Duke Street in March 2011.