--- title: "German Doner Kebab Appoints New Head Of Project Management From Nando’s" url: https://burnaze.com/article/c417d333-ba95-48a6-8c5d-baf65129064e source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20201109_german_doner_kebab_appoints_new_head_of_project_management_from_nandos.html category: "Restaurants" industry: "Restaurants" topics: ["People"] published: 2020-11-09T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T02:31:15.076Z image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551836022-deb4988cc6c0?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop --- # German Doner Kebab Appoints New Head Of Project Management From Nando’s **TL;DR:** German Doner Kebab appoints Rich Collie as its new head of project management to support the brand's growth strategy in the UK. Collie joins from Nando's with 18 years of experience in the UK leisure and hospitality industry. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2020-11-09. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20201109_german_doner_kebab_appoints_new_head_of_project_management_from_nandos.html).* ## Key facts - German Doner Kebab appoints Rich Collie as Head of Project Management - Collie joins from Nando’s with 18 years of experience - German Doner Kebab plans to open 40 restaurants in 2021 ## Story ## New Head Appointment Collie joins from Nando’s and will manage the build-out of the fast-casual brand’s restaurant expansion plans throughout the UK. German Doner Kebab recently announced that it will have opened 12 new restaurants in the UK by the end of 2020, creating in the region of 480 new jobs. The brand also plans to open 40 restaurants during 2021 and boasts a development pipeline of 350 franchise units over the next seven years. Collie will be responsible for the delivery of new restaurant fit-outs, liaising with contractors and consultants to meet brand standards and launch schedules. He will also be charged with building and maintaining close relationships with German Doner Kebab’s multi-unit franchise partners as they build their respective restaurant portfolios. Imran Sayeed, German Doner Kebab CEO, said: “Our game-changing kebabs are revolutionising the kebab and we are excited to be bringing Rich into the German Doner Kebab family as we maintain our mission of building the fast-casual brand of the future. “We are currently building further momentum in our plans for growth and have developed a strong growth pipeline with some of the UK’s most established franchise entrepreneurs. “Rich truly strengthens our team and will be a key asset for us as we expand our restaurant footprint and develop the relationships with our multi-unit franchise partners as we forge ahead with our ambitions for growth.” ## Rich Collie Background Rich Collie has 18 years’ experience in the UK leisure and hospitality industry, helping to drive the expansion of some of the UK’s most successful brands. During the last eight years he has worked with Nando's new restaurant expansion during its busiest period of growth, including its first sustainable restaurant. He said: “It’s very exciting to be joining German Doner Kebab as it enters a new period of relentless growth. “The brand has truly disrupted the fast-casual space in the UK and there is huge consumer demand throughout the country. “GDK’s growth ambitions are second to none and I look forward to contributing to the success of the business as it matures and brings the German Doner Kebab experience to even more people across the UK.” ## German Doner Kebab Growth Based in Glasgow, Scotland, the brand is growing at great pace with 70 restaurants in UK, Europe and Middle East, and now rapidly expanding in the USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Ireland. The fast-casual brand currently has 48 restaurants and employs over 1500 people throughout the country as it continues its mission of bringing the GDK experience to more cities throughout the UK. Further international growth in 2020 includes two new sites in Canada, two in Sweden and one in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The brand’s first site in North America opened in Canada’s Ottawa at the start of September, with a further restaurant opening recently in Surrey, Vancouver. German Doner Kebab is a fast food restaurant that has created a premium, high quality, approach to traditional kebabs. GDK opened its first restaurant in Berlin in 1989 and spent the next decade developing its products and recipes, creating its own unique blend of spices, innovating its signature sauces and perfecting its distinctive ‘Doner Kebab’ waffle bread. GDK’s gourmet Doner Kebabs are made using only the best premium quality ingredients. To maintain quality and consistency we use lean succulent meats imported directly from Germany, and the freshest locally produced vegetables that are delivered and prepared daily along with our handmade bread. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, the brand has grown at great pace with 70 restaurants in UK, Europe and Middle East and now rapidly expanding in the USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Ireland. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - Restaurants (sector) - growth strategy (topic) - restaurant expansion (topic) - German Doner Kebab (company) - new hire (topic) - Nando's (company) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20201109_german_doner_kebab_appoints_new_head_of_project_management_from_nandos.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/c417d333-ba95-48a6-8c5d-baf65129064e).