Hakkasan Group has appointed Yavuz Pehlivanlar as its new Chief Executive Officer as it looks to accelerate global growth.
Pehlivanlar previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Caprice Holdings, the parent company of Sexy Fish and Scott’s Mayfair, and brings over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality.
He joins Hakkasan Group, which operates Hakkasan Mayfair and two Yauatcha restaurants in London, as it transitions to a new business structure while pursuing brand expansion.
Hakkasan was founded by Alan Yau in 2001, and the group now comprises 22 restaurants and bars across cities including Dubai, Mexico City, and Miami.
The group was acquired by global nightlife company Tao Group Hospitality in 2021, and the wider Tao business was subsequently sold to Mohari Hospitality Group, owned by online poker billionaire Mark Scheinberg, for £441 million in 2023.
Last month, Hakkasan Group resumed operations as an independent corporate entity, supported by investment from Mohari Hospitality Group.
Scheinberg stated that he aims to expand the Hakkasan Group brands, which include the Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana and the Asian fusion concept Ling Ling, on a global scale.
“We see tremendous potential for innovation and growth across these iconic brands, and by appointing a world-class CEO to lead this portfolio, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing the strategic leadership and investment needed to unlock their full potential,” Scheinberg added.
The changes follow the closure of the original Hakkasan restaurant on London’s Hanway Place in February after 24 years. The 200-seat venue was one of the first Chinese restaurants in London to earn a Michelin star in 2003, though it lost the accolade in 2024.