Simon Binder, Chairman of hospitality accountancy, Paperchase, with 40 years of running restaurants, offers some sound advice to would-be new restaurateurs.
Simon Binder, Chairman of hospitality accountancy, Paperchase, with 40 years of running restaurants, offers some sound advice to would-be new restaurateurs.
Hotelier by education and foodie by choice. Manit educated himself in hospitality from the Oberoi Group of Hotels and Resorts and then moved to specialise in Food & Beverage with the ITC Hotel group in India.
Post this he managed different food & beverage operations in hotels before moving to Dubai in 2014 to pursue his MBA in Marketing and HR. While doing his MBA, Manit joined Zomato in Dubai as a sales manager and worked with them for almost 7 years.
During this time, he was part of the launch team of various products including Zomato Online Ordering which grew to become one of the biggest food delivery platforms in the UAE. Over his time, he helped build various sales and account management teams and mentored new team members.
At Paperchase, Manit is the Business Development Head for the UAE market and is focused on growing the brand and adding more clients to the existing portfolio.
With an academic, professional, and family background in hospitality it feels like Marc was destined to join Paperchase as our Business Development Manager. After gaining his BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality Management, Marc chose not to follow his father and grandfather into the kitchen, and instead opted to pursue front-of-house roles in his hospitality career. This led him to gain customer-facing experience in establishments such as the London Mandarin Oriental, the Michelin stared ‘The Foliage’ and the Savoy before joining Paperchase where he is responsible for developing new client relationships.
With a career spanning two decades in hospitality management, operations and consultancy, Willow has joined the global team at Paperchase to develop our client success journey. She plays a central role in understanding our clients’ needs and enhancing their experiences; strengthening our relationships and delivering a service which supports our client partnerships. Hailing from Western Canada, Willow moved to the UK over 30 years ago and loves nothing more than spending quality time with her family, going on excursions and appreciating all of life’s experiences – if this includes a fantastic glass of red wine and a wonderful meal than all the better.
Over 20 years of hospitality experience at the highest level in hospitality in Europe, US, Asia and Africa. Extensive experience on all areas of hospitality, from creating concepts for multi-site venues, overseeing food and drinks direction for new openings, P&L responsibilities, budgeting for different concepts, developing and implementing marketing strategies and SOP’s for the group to ensure consistency throughout all phases of operation.
Philip Gay since 2010 has founded and run Triple Enterprises which is focused in multi-unit operations, featuring the restaurant industry. Principal focus is in financial infrastructure (back office), operations, consulting and advisory work, Triple Enterprises have a proven track record of operating, buying, selling and financing high quality companies. The Firm’s network incorporates more than 30 years in financial services and corporate growth initiatives, having built countless relationships with investors and executives.
He also has sat on the board of Motorcarparts of America, currently a $1/2B revenue company (Nasdaq symbol “MPAA”) since 2005, serving as general board and audit chair.
I am a customer-focused restaurant consultant with 30 years’ experience in highly competitive London and international markets. Translating creative concepts into viable business propositions, I deliver end-to-end project management, fundraising strategy and value-based solutions that enable restaurateurs to flourish.
Influential at both board level and delivering hands-on operational support, I have an instinctive understanding of restaurants and how to build a compelling retail offer. Having been in the restaurant business all my working life, as an owner, start-up entrepreneur and board advisor, I feel privileged to help fledgling restaurateurs overcome specific challenges, achieve investment funding, guide strategy and share knowledge as a matter expert.
Armed with a Chartered Accountancy and an MBA in Finance, Purvi is a dynamic finance and accounts leader with 20 years of experience. When she’s not crunching numbers, Purvi is either a devoted mother of two or getting lost in the woods, finding solace through hiking or swimming. Her passion for adventure has taken her to a dozen countries, and she recently made history as the first woman Chartered Accountant in India to complete the Ironman challenge.
Now, as part of the global team at Paperchase, she brings her expertise to drive financial excellence and strategic decision-making. With her sharp financial acumen and proven track record, she ensures the company’s financial stability and growth. Purvi’s passion for delivering exceptional experiences an unwavering commitment to excellence, aligns perfectly with the hospitality sector’s customer-centric focus.
Shalabh Jain brings extensive and diverse experience spanning 36 years, primarily focused on global team leadership, strategic planning and execution, operations and quality management. With a background as a seasoned global leader in Business Process Management for top-tier global firms, Shalabh has successfully led teams across the UK, USA, and Asia Pacific, delivering complex business outcomes and driving transformation. His experience portrays both internal and external leadership, proficiently managing high-performing teams and consistently delivering results to all stakeholders, including Customers, Investors, Employees, and Partners.
Shalabh possesses a profound understanding of our business, market dynamics, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. His strategic acumen, collaborative approach, and commitment to excellence position him as the ideal candidate to navigate our next phase of evolution.
Nish Patel is the global CEO of Paperchase Accountancy, a leading outsourced accounting solutions provider that specializes in serving the hospitality industry. The company, founded in London over 30 years ago, now boasts offices in London, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Dubai, and works with clients across the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Far East. Local account handlers are supported by a robust back-office operation in the founders’ hometown of Ahmedabad, India.
Nish received his Bachelor of Commerce from Gujarat University, then moved to the UK to pursue his master’s degree at the London School of Accountancy & Management, graduating in 2006. For the last 15 years he has worked in various FP&A roles for restaurant groups, eventually being dispatched in 2010 to open US operations for Paperchase, and then ascending to the role of global CEO in 2022.
Director and founder of Paperchase Accountancy, Aku previously pursued a career at Deloitte, before following his passion for hospitality and establishing Paperchase with his brothers in the late 80’s, which is now the UKs leading hospitality accountancy.
His fascination for how restaurants work stems from his childhood experiences, whilst helping to run his parents’ restaurant in Kenya with his brothers, an interest that hasn’t escaped him after 30+ years. Aku regularly shares his expertise and experience to help restaurateurs achieve success, having worked with leading brands, such as Zuma, The Fat Duck, The Ledbury and COYA since their inception. Continuing to support hospitality brands across the globe in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Aku is enthusiastic about seeing hospitality businesses flourish and remains committed to helping them successfully adapt to the fast-paced environment and competition within the industry.