Wed 25th Apr 2018 - Wagamama strengthens US management team Wagamama strengthens US management team: Wagamama has strengthened its US management team with the appointments of Scott Burger as chairman and Janine DiGioacchino as managing director. The move follows a decision by the group’s current US managing director, Burton Heiss, to step down. The company stated: “Reflecting the group’s continued ambition in the US, Scott Burger joins Wagamama in a new role as US chairman. Scott will play a key role in the expansion of the brand to help further establish Wagamama in the US and Canada. Scott joins from jewellery business Pandora, where he spent more than ten years, including almost six years in his latest role as president of the Americas. Scott began his career in the food and beverage industry and brings a broad range of strategic and commercial skills to Wagamama’s growing US portfolio. Janine DiGioacchino joins Wagamama as US managing director to lead the team on its next phase of growth. Janine started her career in the restaurant industry including managing two of New York’s busiest sites – Planet Hollywood and All Star Cafe. Having joined The Tussauds Group and successfully launched the Madame Tussauds brand in New York, she was most recently divisional director of Merlin’s North America Midway Group, where she spent ten years building a business that comprised 26 attractions and established a number of Merlin’s leisure brands in the US. Janine brings an abundance of international experience and, importantly, her passion is people and service, both integral to Wagamama’s ethos and success.” Wagamama chief executive Jane Holbrook added: “We look forward to welcoming Scott and Janine into the Wagamama family to lead our growing operations in the US. We are committed to spreading positivity from bowl to soul in our existing restaurants and as we further expand our footprint in New York later this year.”