Pirata Group's co-founder returns as interim CEO

Hong Kong-based restaurant group Pirata Group’s co-founder Christian Talpo (pictured) has returned to the group as its new interim chief executive officer effective 8 January, succeeding Steen Puggaard.  

As the group approaches its 10th anniversary, Talpo is enthused to build upon the strong foundation established by his co-founder, Manuel Palacio, and himself. His return signifies a renewed commitment to what has kept guests returning all these years - excellent food, legendary service, and great value for money. 

In his statement to staff, Talpo thanked former CEO Puggaard for skillfully steering the group through a challenging post-covid period. 

Under Talpo’s leadership, team wellbeing and operational excellence will be the foremost priorities, “Our people come first, followed by the guests – and profitability is the outcome of the first two done right. We will invest into developing teams that deliver enhanced guest experience and culinary excellence,” he added. 

“This is a show of force, that we as founders don’t limit ourselves to giving instructions from an ivory tower. Instead, we are willing and able to join our teams on the frontline. It’s really simple. We serve unconditional hospitality to one guest, one table, and one round of service at a time,” he said.  

In 2014, Talpo, together with Manuel Palacio, co-founded the sky-high Italian restaurant, Pirata, which has since become a stalwart of Hong Kong’s dining scene. Since then, the company has expanded into 26 restaurants and 16 brands serving 1.5 million guests annually. 

A seasoned restaurateur with over three decades in F&B development, Talpo took a step back from the Group’s day-to-day operations in 2019 and pursued other entrepreneurial endeavours. Since then, he has served on the Group’s Board of Directors until his return to active operations this year. 

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Pirata Group for more information. 

Don't miss: Pirata Group unveils new app to elevate users' dining experience

Back in June 2023, Pirata Group elevated users' dining experience with the launch of Pirata App, a brand-new platform that gives guests singular access to the group’s information, reservations, rewards and digital exclusives.

Apart from enhancing its user experience, the new platform also aims to boost customer loyalty by offering loyalty rewards, including complimentary house drinks, full meals, dining vouchers and other delicious surprises after hitting a certain number of visits.

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