BLACK AND WHITE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT - Key Persons


ELIAS MADBAK

Job Titles:
  • DIRECTOR
Eli is an accomplished hospitality industry professional. He has 20 years of experience with international brands, across the spectrum of casual dining, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), fine dining, franchising, launching brands in global new markets and other restaurant environments. Eli has held positions in the US, UK and now in the MENA region and is based in Dubai. He has a record of excellence in devising and implementing productivity and cost improvements that contribute to positive financial results while improving the guest experience. He has worked on the global expansion with brands such as Applebee's, The Cheesecake Factory, The Habit Burger Grill and Punjab Grill. He specializes in new market entry and works closely with our Marco Pierre White Restaurant franchisees to make sure their venture is a successful one.

JIHAD HAZZAN

Job Titles:
  • DIRECTOR
  • Chief Operating Officer of ALFAHIM Hospitality
As Chief Operating Officer of ALFAHIM Hospitality, Jihad will bring the global knowledge form RMAL Hospitality and their team to the Marco Pierre White franchising division. Jihad is key to the increasing pipeline over the next three to five years. His strong relationship is with numerous franchise partners and dates back 14 years when he opened the first Wagamama UAE branch in Dubai. Combining Wagamama's innovative approach to the restaurant's concept with ALFAHIM Hospitality's customer-focused mindset is the winning recipe for a lasting partnership. Jihad enters an opening of a new chapter in the wider expansion plans for the Marco Pierre White restaurant brands across the UAE and a growing presence in neighbouring GCC countries. Global development will follow later this year.

MARCO PIERRE WHITE - Founder

Job Titles:
  • CO - FOUNDER
Marco is the self-described composer behind this exciting and growing business. Marco's DNA runs through the whole Black and White Hospitality operation. All menus, dishes and new and evolving brands run through Marco's hands. He also travels a lot of the year so is always on the move internationally. The English House in Singapore is his latest project, a truly amazing restaurant with rooms for people to stay. Marco's extensive travels allow him to guide us through different countries, cultures and international trends and bring ideas from different cultures and countries. Dubbed the godfather of modern cooking, Marco Pierre White is a renowned chef, restaurateur and TV personality. He has led the UK restaurant scene for 25 years and helped kick-start the careers of chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, both of whom trained under him. Marco's imminent success began when, at the age of 19, he went to London to train in classical French cooking with Albert and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche. He later went on to work with Raymond Blanc and Pierre Koffmann, both renowned for their French cooking techniques. In January 1987, Marco opened Harveys, his first London restaurant. He was awarded his first Michelin star the following year and his second star in 1990. He finally won his third Michelin star in 1995 at The Restaurant Marco Pierre White in the Hyde Park Hotel London, becoming the first British chef and youngest chef worldwide, at the age of 33, to win three stars. By 1999 Marco had achieved everything a chef would endeavour to become and so he finally hung up his apron on 23rd December that year, retiring from the kitchen. Following his retirement, Marco took time out to spend it with his family and enjoy his hobbies, fishing and shooting. Having become an icon, an inspirational chef and regarded as the celebrity chef's celebrity chef, in 2007 Marco jumped back in to the public eye with major TV roles in Hell's Kitchen, The Great British Menu (2008) and Australian Master Chef (2011). Today, he is dedicated to rolling-out his restaurant concepts to share his love and passion for food. His restaurants focus on delivering good, quality food at affordable prices.

NICK TAPLIN - Founder

Job Titles:
  • CO - FOUNDER
Resident in the UK but a seasoned traveller, Nick heads up this exciting venture. Nick has over 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked closely with Marco in recent years to develop all the different franchise concepts available. Nick's hospitality experience expands F&B. Prior to Black and White Hospitality, Nick was MD at Sanguine Hospitality where he was responsible for developing and managing branded hotels and luxury health clubs and spas. Today, his role is focused on driving the Black and White Hospitality expansion strategy and overseeing its operational activities. He is also an investor in both Cadbury House in North Somerset and The Cube in Birmingham (both UK).

RACHEL TAPLIN

Job Titles:
  • DIRECTOR
Rachel has a varied wealth of experience in the hospitality sector spanning the past 20 years. Having worked across a range of areas including finance, strategy, logistics new business development. Rachels role is to develop new relationships and identify new opportunities as we continue to expand the Marco Pierre White restaurant brands across the UK and the global expansion abroad.

ROB ATKINSON - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • LEGAL DIRECTOR
Rob acts as Legal Director for Black and White Hospitality and works closely with the brand team to ensure quality and consistency, as well as supporting the expansion strategy and all other legal matters across the group. Rob has over 15 years' experience as an in-house lawyer with a particular specialism in the franchising sector having previously worked globally for businesses such as PepsiCo.