José Andrés Steps Down As CEO Of His Restaurant Group

WASHINGTON, DC — Celebrity chef and philanthropist José Andrés on Thursday announced he has stepped down as the CEO of the restaurant group he founded, which continues to have dining sites in Montgomery County, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere nationwide.

Andrés continues to serve as the founder and executive chairman of José Andrés Group, the creative force who continues to inspire the growing company's teams worldwide, lead culinary innovation across its restaurants globally, and create award-winning books, television and content platforms through José Andrés Media.

The restaurant lineup by Andrés in D.C., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago, includes Jaleo, Bazaar by José Andrés, 2-Michelin-starred Barmini, Zaytinya, Oyamel, and fast-casual brands like Beefsteak, Butterfly Tacos, and Pepe, DC Eater said.

In recent years, Andrés has garnered praise for sending teams from his World Central Kitchen into areas ravage by hurricanes and armed conflict to feed those in need. Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The workers were killed April 1 when munitions fired from Israeli armed drones ripped through vehicles in their convoy as they left one of World Central Kitchen's warehouses.

Andrés said the team represented the "best of humanity" and risked everything "to feed people they did not know and will never meet."

Related: Chef Andrés: Workers Killed By Israeli Airstrikes 'Best Of Humanity

A news release said new key leadership appointments reflect domestic and international expansion for the hospitality and media company, coupled with a growth investment by RockCreek.

Sam Bakhshandehpour will now serve as the global chief executive officer of José Andrés Group, working with Ron Parker as president and chief operating officer and Nestor Nova as chief financial officer to run daily operations.

"Sam understands the power of restaurants to transport us, for food to be the language of connection, and how we can be a part of communities in a meaningful way, all over the world," said Andrés in a statement.

With almost 40 restaurant concepts across the country and internationally, José Andrés Group began 2024 unveiling significant expansion in key markets with prominent strategic partnerships brokered by JAG business development partner, Cultivate Hospitality.

With its launch over 30 years ago, JAG brought to America the Spanish art of sharing small plates.

JAG will continue to expand its wide-ranging concepts from its Signature Collection (The Bazaar by José Andrés and barmini) to Small Plates Collection (Jaleo, Zaytinya, China Poblano, Oyamel and China Chilcano) to JAG fast casual division, FastGood (Beefsteak, Butterfly Tacos, Pepe and more).

In the last two years, JAG has broadened its footprint by opening restaurants and bars in partnership with hotel brands including Conrad Los Angeles, Waldorf-Astoria Washington DC, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, and The Ritz-Carlton South Beach.

José Andrés Media has garnered acclaim for its Emmy-Award winning TV show, "José Andrés and Family in Spain," as well as its recently released New York Times-bestselling cookbook "ZAYTINYA: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon."

For more information about José Andrés Group, go to: https://joseandres.com/.