Bella Italia appoints HR director to oversee employee engagement strategy


Bella Italia has appointed Wayne Morgan to the role of HR Director to oversee the implementation of a new employee engagement strategy.

The appointment demonstrates the company’s on-going commitment to attracting, training and retaining the best talent in the industry so that it can continue to deliver exceptional dining experiences for customers.

The engagement strategy targets three key areas: attracting and retaining quality talent; developing and training the leaders of tomorrow within the business; and embedding and reinforcing a culture that drives employee engagement.

To help implement the strategy, Wayne Morgan has appointed Nina Widdacombe and Gemma Wyatt to the newly created roles of Talent and Development Business Partner and Head of People. Nina Widdacombe will oversee talent development and internal training; while Gemma Wyatt will oversee talent attraction and general HR procedures.

Wayne Morgan said, “I am delighted to be working with a vibrant and exciting brand like Bella Italia to help drive employee engagement across the business.

“The competition for great team members is as ever a battle and the onus is firmly on our brand to create a culture that attracts and retains employees. I’m confident we now have a robust strategy and structure in place to ensure people enjoy their time at Bella and stay with us to develop their career.”

Wayne Morgan has almost a decade of experience in HR roles, including most recently spells at the Fossil Group and Atmosphere Bars and Clubs.

Bella Italia, which is part of the Casual Dining Group, operates 111 restaurants throughout the UK, and the company has plans to open further sites over the coming year. Bella is also undertaking a refurbishment programme, introducing a revitalised look and feel to the existing restaurant portfolio.