Hugo Ramos

Influential and focused hospitality professional with over a decade of transformational leadership and growth. Multi-site operational leader who delivers sustainable high-quality standards with commercial mindset. Entrepreneurial, creative with a start-up mindset drives productivity, efficiency and profitability. Highly resilient, now seeking to bring accumulated expertise to Senior role within a progressive organisation. 

• Builds people culture; steers strategy, cultivates strong and sustainable people culture and relationships. Navigates conflict demands to embed modern, cost-effective solutions.
• Drives business growth brand innovation and long-term gains; optimises investment returns, increases sales and transforms loss-making operations into profit. Delivers fresh perspective through breadth of commercial and industry insight. 
• Adapts to changing environments; translates commercial needs into customer-focused action plans, develops cost-effective strategies and oversees projects to successful conclusions and top-line growth.

Draughts London – MULTI SITE Competitive Socialising Jan 2022 – July 2022

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Led the operational re-structuring of all areas of the business by aligning systems, driving revenue, cost control and net profit improvement. Deputised for the CEO & Founder on in all aspects of organisational leadership and external relationships and communications.

• Business strategy planning; key contributor to the wider business strategy. Developed commercial growth roadmap for 3rd site acquisition.
• Operational Systems and Control; Reduced costs by 30% and labour by 15% by introducing fit for purpose systems streamlining operations in all critical areas.  
• Customer Reviews; implemented training and systems improving customer online reviews from 3.5 to 4.4 within 3 months.
• F&B; launched food & drinks menus and promotions increasing footfall by 20%. Provided F&B expertise for all sites.
• People Culture; overhauled the people culture within the company. Set the tone and implemented industry leading changes creating better employee inductions, on-going training programs and 121 coaching and mentoring. Upgraded the tronc base skill level reward system.
• Talent Acquisition; headed the recruitment of all areas, set up employee KPIs, appraisals, internal career progression and disciplinary processes.

Monopoly Lifesized – TPEG Group - SELLADOOR May 2021 – Jan 2022

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR – fix-term contract

Part of Selladoor Worldwide, the Path Entertainment Group is an attraction production and touring house. Working with Hasbro and Lionsgate, it delivers world class live gameplay entertainment to global audiences. 

• Launched “Monopoly Lifesized” in July 2021; hosting 4 life sized monopoly boards, a retail area and the Top Hat Bar & Restaurant. Leading teams on all operational areas pre-opening and post-launch. 
• Business £MM strategy delivery; attraction feasibility study and company management for 2 future premium attractions in the U.K. Developed business plan P&L and GP for 2022 projects with YOY evolution.
• People Culture; overhauled the people culture within the company. Set the tone and implemented industry leading changes creating better employment contracts and pay, working hours and conditions, company benefits transforming internal culture and external company perception.
• Head of HR; headed the department by developing and implementing all employment policies, KPIs, staff welfare culture, appraisals, internal career progression and disciplinary processes.
• License Management; weekly U.S. calls with Hasbro and Lionsgate reporting on development and brand location standards.
• Legal Support; lead on all legal items, ensuring compliance with direct licensing agreements, Intellectual property and brand management, insurance and premises license. Point of call for any contractual queries.
• Operational Systems and Control; introduced and implemented fit for purpose systems streamlining operations in all critical operational areas. Reduced costs and improved company best practices.

SELINA Hotels – worldwide hotel chain       Jan 2019 - Mar 2020

UK COUNTRY FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR 

Led the inception of Hotel start-up brand Selina.com in the UK. Provided subject matter expertise for retail, food and beverage for market entry.

• Opened Selina Manchester in July 2019 and Selina Birmingham October 2019; delivered within budget and projected time-frame. 
• Launched 5 F&B retail locations in Manchester and 3 in Birmingham. Developed concept to completion consisting of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and a nightclub.
• Multi-site and Business Developer for 15 F&B units within Hotel portfolio.
• Increased F&B revenue by 25% pp per room within 6 weeks of each Hotel launch.
• Business strategy delivery; created commercialisation strategy for all locations supporting Hotel General Managers with delivery and evolution for each location. 
• Supported Europe F&B team; supported product roll-out on 3 locations in Portugal and 2 in Greece. Work done on site and remotely.
• Business Development B2B; implemented partnerships with hospitality entrepreneurs, food operator platforms and businesses to support Selina portfolio growth. Negotiated contracts with local and national suppliers and providers. 
• Led systems improvement; optimized LATAM company hospitality systems in order to drive F&B profitability by 15%, operations and cost control. Changes became company best practice globally.
• Controlled £MM F&B redevelopment capex; aimed at redeveloping F&B areas within recently acquired hotels in Liverpool, London, Brighton, Bath and Glasgow. 

London Fields Brewery – craft beer brewery  Jan 2015 – Jan 2019 

MANAGING DIRECTOR                                                             

Quickly made impact enhancing agility and brand identity as Managing Director, bringing holistic perspective to strategy, problem-solving and challenging models that engendered the company.

• Turned around loss-making business; addressed challenging strategy model by implementing clear financial plan with meticulous P&L and cash flow, securing Board approval.
• Refocused operations and achieved 25% increase over first two years and 35% on year three in turnover.
• Restructured the company; reorganised departments, streamlined operations and mitigated high risk areas.
• Sold business to Carlsberg UK / Brooklyn Brewery US in 2017; leading a cross-company team of 50 with £5M capex budget.
  • Led M&A proposal, preparation and negotiation of sale business to Carlsberg UK; instrumental negotiator with due diligence process, ensuring seamless acquisition by Carlsberg UK / Brooklyn Brewery in Jul 2017.
  • Instrumental link at Carlberg UK upon acquisition; led cross-company teams through challenging and
• Led LFB branding within Carlsberg UK craft beer portfolio; rebranded LFB logo, product SKUs and imagery that led to stronger commercial position and consumer awareness.
  ➢ Targeted specific demographic that focused brand marketing strategy, including consumer trade events, major retailers and sponsorship opportunities.
• Created Events Department; expanded number of events booked fourfold; created catering opportunities; developed private, corporate, live music yearly calendar of 250 plus events a year.
• Galvanised teams and embedded resilient operational processes; overhauled disparate systems and replaced weak controls that achieved greater efficiencies, improved governance and enabled considerable cost savings.
• Leveraged commercial growth through redefined business model that transformed product and operations; diversified traditional client base, educated market on craft beer and drove vibrant brand awareness campaigns. 
  • Controlled £2M investment aimed at redeveloping two retail spaces and new brewery.

Deloitte uk – MANAGEMENT consultant         sep 2013 – jan 2015

Joined Deloitte as Management Consultant working with the following London hospitality clients. Led financial turnaround and supported business change. The following activities included, but not limited to:      

• Portobello Hotel *** achieved financial stability, improved bed occupancy, and created new business opportunities for future growth. Reviewed P&L statements, budgets and forecasts, revenues and expenses.
• Steam & Rye – restaurant and bar - Optimised late-night licence with new product offering and customer experience; overhauled FOH/BOH operations, updated policies and SOPs. Improved financial management and budgetary control. 
• Archivist Hotel *** Introduced training and upskills for under-performing teams.  Returned business to profit within 12 weeks with progressive 40% revenue increase across all areas. Oversaw individual department managers to ensure adherence to company policy and procedure.

Proud Group – Galleries, Restaurants and Clubs Aug 2007 – Feb 2013

GROUP GENERAL MANAGER

Recruited as GM for Proud Camden and promoted to Group GM in 2010 to drive brand portfolio expansion.

• Scaled portfolio to two clubs, three restaurants and three galleries; Grew group revenues by 50% for first two years, 15% on year three and 10% from year four; led multidisciplinary team of 100, P&L and resources to achieve sustainable growth, 30% cost savings and profit margins of approximately 20%.
• Leveraged media coverage gained from photography galleries to push Proud brand and diversify offering; capitalized on cool, iconic visual to drive forward Proud brand identity. 
• Proud was shortlisted for CoolBrands UK award.
• Opened 3 fine dining cabaret restaurants; maximized footfall and sales through flexibly adapting model to client needs. Increased covers by concentrating on most profitable periods, changing table sizes and optimizing capacity.
• Expertly navigated potential licensing issues by forward planning to avoid disruption to business. 
• Effectively managed creditors, debtors and government bodies during voluntary liquidation process of parent company; oversaw strategy plan and flow of communications that preserved relationships and minimized damage.

LLB Law (Hons), University of Law, 2015 - London

BA (Hons), Music Business, First Class Honours, Westminster University, 2006 - London

BA, Business Management Administration, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2000 - Lisbon