JKS Restaurants has promoted Chet Sharma, the founder of its BiBi restaurant in London, to global culinary director of its Gymkhana brand. Sharma, who has been working with JKS for the last decade, will also retain his role as chef patron at BiBi.
Sharma began his career at JKS as group development chef, helping to shape the culinary direction of several of its Indian brands, including Gymkhana, before launching BiBi with JKS in 2021.
“BiBi is and always will remain a very personal project for me,” said Sharma, adding: “Returning to Gymkhana now feels like a homecoming of sorts. It’s a return to the place that – especially in the early days – educated my Indian palate more than anywhere else.”
Karam Sethi, co-founder of JKS Restaurants, added, “Chet has been an integral part of JKS for many years. He has an innate understanding of Gymkhana, alongside the leadership and vision to lead the brand on a global stage.”
In his new role, Sharma will oversee Gymkhana London and the brand’s global growth in regions such as North America and the Middle East, as well as supporting and leading its executive and head chef teams.
JKS opened its first overseas Gymkhana site in December, in Las Vegas, adding to its Ambassadors Clubhouse in New York and Berenjak in Los Angeles.
Author: George Shaw
Former BBC journalist and founder and CEO of an award-winning London advertising and PR company for 20 years, providing restaurant consultancy services. Spent a decade as the director of communications of the Asian Catering Federation in the UK and lead judge for its various restaurant and chef awards programmes. Now returned to journalism, specialising in food and travel and currently the Editor-in-Chief for Taste London, Taste Asia, the Good Curry Guide and CEO of International Culinary Guides.