ZUMA Dubai appoints Spero Panagakis as General Manager

Spero Panagakis takes responsibility for the day-to-day management of Dubai's most successful restaurant bar and lounge concept

DIFC, United Arab Emirates, 10 September 2012 - ZUMA Dubai is delighted to announce the appointment of Spero Panagakis as its General Manager. Spero joins the team with over 20 years of hospitality experience to his name, having worked with a number of industry greats including Sir Terence Conran, Chris and Jeff Galvin and for a number of world-leading hospitality marques such as Quaglino's in London and most recently Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

Spero's passion for the industry began in his native Australia, where he gained several vocational qualifications from both the Australian School of Tourism and Hospitality and the University of Southern Australia. His career has subsequently taken him all over the globe, starting in London, where he joined D@D London, formerly Conran Restaurants. Here Spero was restaurant manager at the glamorous London eatery Quaglino's, before moving up to General Manager for the opening of the Paternoster Chop House.

In March 2009, after ten years with D&D London, Spero moved to Galvin Restaurants as Operations Manager. This position gave him overall responsibility for the running of three award-winning restaurants within the group, including the project management and opening of the Michelin starred Galvin La Chapelle and Café A Vin. Work then took Spero to Greece, taking a role as Food and Beverage Operations Manager for Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino, a luxury five star resort operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. This position included the day-to-day running of 22 outlets, overseeing 300 staff and taking full responsibility for 10 million budgeted turnover.

Spero has long held a great respect for the ZUMA brand, having often frequented the London venue when working in London. He vowed to work for the restaurant in the future, and so gladly accepted a position within ZUMA Dubai in early 2012 when it was presented to him. In his role as General Manager, Spero is accountable for the smooth running of the restaurant, ensuring excellence in all aspects relating to guest experience and reports directly into the Director of Operations for ZUMA Middle East.

www.zumarestaurant.ae

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For bookings, please call 04 425 5660

Email reservations@zumarestaurant.ae or book online at www.zumarestaurant.ae

Opening Hours:
Zuma Restaurant
Lunch
Sat-Thu 12.30pm-3pm
Friday Brunch:
12:30pm-3:30pm

Zuma Lounge & Bar
Sat-Wed 12:30pm-1am
Thu & Fri 12:30pm-2am

Dinner
Sat-Wed     7pm-midnight
Thu & Fri    7pm-1am

Located in Podium 6 at The Gate Village in Dubai International Financial Centre, ZUMA offers its guests complimentary parking. For location details, please visit: www.zumarestaurant.com

About ZUMA
ZUMA was co-founded by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney in 2002. The first ZUMA restaurant to open was in London's fashionable Knightsbridge area and remains the brand's flagship. All of ZUMA's management and chefs are extensively trained in London before working in ZUMA's international locations. The Dubai venture was the fourth site to open in the Group's expansion plan, the most recent sites being Miami in 2010 and Bangkok in 2011. Over the next few years, Zuma will be looking to continue opening new restaurants in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities.

Leading the ZUMA Dubai team is Ajaz Sheikh as Director of Operations for the Middle East.

For more information visit the ZUMA website: www.zumarestaurant.com

Awards received:
Best Japanese restaurant
Best Restaurant
What's On Awards 2010 (Dubai)

Best Asian Restaurant
Restaurant of the Year
BBC Good Food Awards Middle East 2010

Best Business Lunch
Time Out Restaurant Awards 2010 (Dubai)

World's 50 Best Bars
Ranked No. 49 Globally

Best Japanese
Gulf Connoisseur Awards 2011