CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)
Location: Doha, Qatar
Reporting To: Group CEO
Level: C-Suite / Executive Leadership
Industry: Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Entertainment & Lifestyle
ABOUT THE ROLE
A leading and rapidly growing international hospitality and lifestyle group is seeking an accomplished Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead its next phase of operational and commercial growth.
The Group operates a diverse portfolio of 17+ brands and 70+ outlets across multiple international markets, encompassing luxury and premium fine dining, casual dining, cafés, beach clubs, nightlife, entertainment and lifestyle concepts.
With an established presence in the GCC and operations across international locations, the Group continues to expand its portfolio, enter new markets and develop innovative hospitality and entertainment concepts.
The COO will have overall responsibility for driving operational excellence, commercial performance, profitability, guest experience and organizational scalability across a complex multi-brand and multi-market platform.
This is a highly strategic executive position requiring an experienced operator who can manage scale, complexity and international growth while maintaining the individual identity, positioning and standards of each brand.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. GROUP OPERATIONS & STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
- Provide overall operational leadership across 17+ brands and 70+ outlets operating across multiple international markets.
- Translate the Group's strategic objectives into clear operational and commercial priorities.
- Establish effective governance, operating structures, KPIs and accountability across countries and business units.
- Drive operational consistency while protecting the individual positioning and identity of each brand.
- Build scalable operating models capable of supporting continued international expansion.
- Partner closely with the Group CEO and Executive Leadership Team on strategic decisions and business growth.
2. COMMERCIAL & P&L ACCOUNTABILITY
- Hold overall accountability for operational revenue, profitability and EBITDA performance.
- Drive same-store sales growth, outlet productivity and margin improvement.
- Develop and implement strategies to optimize food cost, beverage cost, labour productivity and other controllable expenses.
- Work closely with Finance on budgets, forecasts, business plans and financial performance reviews.
- Establish clear performance-management mechanisms across brands, outlets and markets.
- Identify underperforming operations and implement effective turnaround plans.
3. MULTI-BRAND MANAGEMENT
- Oversee a diverse portfolio of premium and luxury hospitality, F&B, entertainment and lifestyle concepts.
- Develop appropriate operating models for different business formats and customer segments.
- Ensure consistent execution of brand standards across all markets.
- Drive knowledge sharing and operational best practices across the portfolio.
- Ensure each brand achieves its commercial objectives without compromising its customer proposition or positioning.
4. INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
- Provide leadership across geographically dispersed operations in multiple countries.
- Establish effective relationships with country and regional leadership teams.
- Develop common operating standards while adapting execution to local market requirements.
- Identify operational synergies between markets and businesses.
- Support the Group's international expansion strategy and future market entries.
- Ensure international operations meet financial, operational, compliance and brand expectations.
5. NEW BUSINESS & EXPANSION
- Work with the CEO and senior leadership to evaluate new concepts, markets, brands and investment opportunities.
- Provide operational input into acquisitions, partnerships, franchise arrangements and new business opportunities.
- Lead operational planning for new market entries and new outlet openings.
- Establish manpower requirements, operating structures, budgets and launch plans for new businesses.
- Ensure new concepts are operationally ready and launched within agreed timelines and budgets.
6. GUEST EXPERIENCE & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
- Establish world-class standards for service, hospitality, food quality and customer experience.
- Develop measurable guest experience and service-quality KPIs.
- Monitor customer feedback, NPS, reviews and operational performance.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement across all operations.
- Benchmark the Group against leading international hospitality and restaurant operators.
7. LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Lead and develop a high-performing international operations leadership team.
- Establish clear structures across Group, regional, country, brand and outlet operations.
- Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines for critical operational positions.
- Build a culture of accountability, ownership, innovation and service excellence.
- Partner with HR to attract, develop and retain high-calibre hospitality leadership talent.
8. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
- Drive the use of technology, data and analytics to improve operational decision-making.
- Establish effective Group-wide dashboards and performance-management systems.
- Identify opportunities to automate, standardize and simplify operational processes.
- Use data to improve revenue, labour productivity, cost management and guest experience.
- Lead continuous operational transformation across the portfolio.
9. RISK, COMPLIANCE & GOVERNANCE
- Ensure all businesses operate in accordance with regulatory, health, safety, food safety and licensing requirements.
- Establish robust operational controls and audit mechanisms.
- Ensure corrective actions are implemented following operational reviews and audits.
- Develop effective business-continuity and risk-management frameworks.
10. EXECUTIVE & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
- Work closely with the Group CEO, Board, shareholders and Executive Leadership Team.
- Provide regular operational and financial performance updates.
- Develop strategic recommendations based on business and market performance.
- Maintain strong relationships with brand partners, landlords, developers, investors and strategic stakeholders.
- Represent the Group at relevant regional and international industry forums.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate will be a proven hospitality or F&B executive with significant experience managing large-scale, multi-brand and multi-market operations.
Essential Experience
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within hospitality, F&B, restaurants, leisure, entertainment or related consumer-facing businesses.
- Previous experience at COO, Group COO, CEO, Managing Director, Group Operations Director or equivalent senior executive level.
- Proven experience managing large multi-unit and multi-brand operations, ideally 50+ outlets.
- Strong P&L ownership and commercial management experience.
- Demonstrated track record of improving revenue, profitability and operational efficiency.
- Experience managing operations across multiple countries or international markets.
- Strong GCC experience is highly desirable.
- Proven experience leading large operational teams and senior leadership functions.
- Experience with new concept launches, business expansion and international growth.
PREFERRED BACKGROUND
Candidates from the following backgrounds will be particularly relevant:
- International restaurant groups
- Regional F&B groups
- Luxury hospitality groups
- Multi-brand restaurant operators
- Entertainment and leisure groups
- Beach club and nightlife operators
- Diversified hospitality organizations
- International franchise and brand operators
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
Strategic Leadership
Ability to translate Group strategy into measurable operational and commercial outcomes.
Commercial Acumen
Strong understanding of revenue, EBITDA, P&L, cost management and shareholder value.
Operational Excellence
Proven ability to manage complex, high-volume and geographically dispersed operations.
Multi-Brand Leadership
Ability to manage diverse concepts while protecting individual brand identities.
International Mindset
Experience operating across different countries, cultures and regulatory environments.
Transformation Leadership
Ability to build scalable systems, processes and organizational structures for growth.
People Leadership
Strong track record of developing senior leadership teams and operational talent.
Customer Focus
Deep understanding of premium and luxury hospitality and the importance of guest experience.
Executive Presence
Ability to influence CEOs, Boards, shareholders, brand partners and senior stakeholders.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Success will be measured against:
- Group revenue growth
- EBITDA and operating profit
- Same-store sales growth
- Outlet profitability
- Labour productivity
- Food and beverage cost optimization
- Guest satisfaction and NPS
- Brand-standard compliance
- New outlet opening performance
- International expansion milestones
- Employee engagement and leadership retention
- Operational efficiency
- Successful implementation of transformation initiatives
