Leon has appointed Pret a Manger UK operations director Julio Santoyo as its new managing director of restaurants.
Santoyo brings more than 18 years’ experience at Pret a Manger to the role, having first joined the food-to-go chain in 2008. During this time, he held a number of positions including operations manager, head of operations and most recently as director of UK operations.
His appointment is one of several leadership changes at the healthy fast food chain. In March, Boxpark finance boss Chris Burford returned to Leon as chief financial officer, a role he previously held in 2021. In April, former franchise boss Nick Scovell returned to the business to run restaurant operations and grow franchise opportunities.
The team shake-up comes as Leon undergoes a turnaround plan after Asda sold the chain back to co-founder John Vincent in October. He has since vowed to reinvigorate Leon and return it to its core values.
“Leon has an important purpose, and it’s one that I completely share,” said Santoyo. “John and I are committed to making it easier to eat and live well.
“I love food, and I am very curious about what makes people feel and be well. John and I share a lot of values, and at the same time, we bring different skills. I am very happy to be joining John and the brilliant team he is building.”
Vincent added: “We have long had a spirit of innovation and disruption. We now need to be superb at operations. I would like to make Leon as big as it can be without losing its customer intimacy.
“This is the challenge Julio and I have set ourselves – for every guest to experience Leon at its best and to grow as big as we can whilst maintaining soul.”
Last week, it was confirmed that Leon will emerge from administration after receiving support from 100% of the creditors who voted as part of its Company Voluntary Arrangement.
The successful CVA vote will enable the business to exit administration with a total of 43 restaurants, including 23 franchises. During its restructuring earlier this year, 23 company-owned restaurants closed, emerging as a “smaller but stronger business”, Leon said at the time.
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