Alana Buckley, previously managing director at Kerb Events, has taken on the role of managing director at Jimmy Garcia Catering.
She will begin her role at the luxury events and venue caterer on 6 October, working alongside current managing director Richard Groves, who will transition to chairman, as well as founder Jimmy Garcia and Jimmy’s Pop Up managing director Bertie Woodhead.
Jimmy Garcia Catering is aiming to achieve B Corp certification, joining other boutique caterers such as Houston & Hawkes and Lettice Events.
Buckley most recently served as business development director at Compass-backed street food operator Kerb, where she had also held the positions of head of events and commercial director.
Before her nine-year tenure at Kerb, Buckley was head of events at Smart Group’s event catering arm, Moving Venue. She also served on the board of Unique Venues of London (UVL), a collective representing more than 80 event spaces across the capital.
Garcia said: “We chose Alana because of her exceptional experience and strong industry connections. Richard and I have brought her into the business at an exciting and pivotal time for the company, and we’re confident that her leadership will help us continue to grow and innovate across new venues and client experiences. Her experience will be invaluable for both Jimmy Garcia Catering and Jimmy’s Pop Up.”
So far this year, Jimmy Garcia Catering has added the V&A South Kensington, the Science Museum, and Two Temple Place to its roster of accredited London venues.
The company was founded by Jimmy Garcia in 2011, after he transformed his living room into a 25-seat restaurant. Since then, his catering business has served high-profile clients such as Gucci, Google, Instagram, and the Royal Palaces.
