After Alan Yau sold Hakkasan and Yauatcha for $60 million in January, he stayed on as CEO, continuing to oversee daily operations. Now he's done it again with his Busaba Eathai restaurants. Receiving an initial investment of £21.5 million – with more to come – from Phoenix Equity Partners, he's enabled the opening of 20–30 new restaurants across the UK over the next five years. “I’m delighted to be working with a partner who has helped build so many superb brands,” says Yau, who will remain both director and major shareholder; the existing management team will also continue with the business.
– Susan Kessler