Adam Crocini
Senior Vice President, Global Head Brand F&B
The power of our network is rooted in its diversity of thought, wealth of experience, and global reach.
Adam is the senior vice president and global head of Brand F&B at Hilton where he oversees the strategy, development and innovation for Hilton’s food and beverage experiences across Hilton’s portfolio of 22 world-class brands. Prior to Hilton, Adam spent close to 25 years in restaurant operations and brand development for Wolfgang Puck and Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Le Coucou
Catherine Ker
Director, Brand F&B
Catherine has over a decade of experience in F&B development and operations. She has lead teams at a range of independent restaurants and bars, from quick service restaurants to Michelin-starred destinations. Catherine has her Certified Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Quenelle de Brochet from Le Coucou
Richard Cohn
Director, Brand F&B
Richard is an aspiring polymath who takes inspiration from the intersection between food, restaurants, art, culture, and design. He is privileged to lead an immensely talented team of creatives, ex-operators, and restaurant development professionals. Richard calls D.C home and is fortunate to look over Hilton’s portfolio across the United States and the Caribbean and Latin America.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Basque/N. Spain or a classic Brasserie
Beth Goodwin
Manager, Brand F&B Development
Beth grew up in the food-focused San Francisco Bay Area and started her career in the kitchens of Chez Panisse. Previously, Beth worked in restaurant development for Major Food Group and was a culinary consultant for Soho House and James Beard Award-winning Maison Premiere. She is a graduate of the Hotel School at Cornell University and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Thai Diner (NY, NY) and The Four Horsemen (Brooklyn, NY)
Jake Schaffer
Manager, Brand F&B Development
Growing up in Los Angeles, Jake was exposed to a variety of cuisines which ignited an interest in food that has become a career. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Administration from Cornell University, he spent time working in restaurant operations and development in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York City. Currently based in Brooklyn, NY, Jake is excited to work at the intersection of hospitality and design at Hilton.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Marcona Almonds
Cody Hochheiser
Manager, Brand F&B
Cody found a professional outlet for his lifelong food obsession through 10 years of restaurant work in operations and business development – mostly in his hometown of D.C. These roles were sandwiched between a songwriting deal with Warner Bros. and an MBA from Cornell, with a dash of CPG brand management. Cody’s thrilled to return to his favorite city and industry to work with a Hilton team stacked with talent and passion for hospitality.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: A cheese plate with at least one unspeakably stinky selection
Aisling Gould
Senior Manager, Brand F&B
Aisling discovered her passion for F&B as a child obsessed with the workings of the three-sink behind the bar at her father’s micro-brewery in South Dakota. She pursued a degree in Hospitality Management from the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at the University of Denver, where she developed a love for fine dining and lodging. Upon graduating, she accumulated over 10 years of operational experience, leading acclaimed, high-volume restaurants in both Washington D.C. and New York. She eagerly anticipates returning to DC for the Le Diplomate breadbasket, which sustained her through the early parts of her career.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Steak Sandwich at Pastis NY
Marc Rios
Manager, Brand F&B Programs
From an early age, Marc has loved everything food and beverage and is excited to continue expanding his palate at Hilton. After graduating from the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, his various positions took him to Chicago, Arizona, and Washington, DC. With over a decade of operational experience, Marc has worked for leading restaurant, hotel, and spirit companies such as Lettuce Entertain You, Marriott International, and Angel’s Envy.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Steak Tartare at Armitage Alehouse
Marie McAllister
Analyst, Brand F&B Development
Marie’s ambition to embody hospitality and evoke emotion through design shines through in her experience thus far. Upon graduating from Cornell, she gained an experiential foundation working at Four Seasons to propel her future roles. Today, she is immersed in the food & beverage space supporting our team.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Crab Rangoon
Hannah Davies
Senior Director Brand F&B Strategy
Hannah loves creative and strategic challenges and with over 25 years in hospitality she has driven the development of many of the industry’s leading concepts. At Hakkasan, ETM Group, Selfridges and Caprice Holdings she has created and grown high quality, complex F&B businesses and collaborated effectively with a variety of global stakeholders. Hannah thrives in a dynamic and social environment and enjoys sharing her passion for F&B with those around her.
Favorite Restaurant: The Test Kitchen, Cape Town
Favorite Food: Tataki
Fayaz Nazeer
Senior Director Brand F&B Creative
Fayaz has led the creative F&B concepting and programming for Hilton’s hotels and resorts in EMEA for over five years, having previously worked for d.ream project managing and opening world-class restaurant brand Nusr-Et, and conceptualizing and opening Ruya, Esquire Middle East’s best restaurant in 2018. He is passionate about bringing creativity and technology into his work.
Favorite Restaurant: 11 Woodfire, Dubai
Favorite Food: Beef Rendang and Curry
George Blower
Senior Creative Brand F&B
George is a creative strategist with 10+ years of brand F&B experience. His work has taken him from launching food and beverage D2C and B2B brands into the world at fast-paced startups and global giants. He’s also a trained chef graduating from Leith’s School of Food & Wine, and an alumni of the MAD Copenhagen Academy, which has seen him work with the likes of Douglas McMaster (Silo), Nuno Mendes and open his own kitchen residency in Cornwall, UK. The third string to his bow is working at esteemed hospitality design studios across the lifestyle and luxury sectors on hotels and resorts, restaurants and bars, and wellness retreats.
Favorite Restaurant: Towpath Café
Favorite Food: Anchovies
Joep Sondeijker
Project Manager Brand F&B
Joep brings with him 15 years of experience in hospitality. At Accor, IHG and Sircle Collection, he held various hotel F&B development and operational roles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Hospitality Management at the Hotelschool The Hague. Joep discovered his passion for strategic & project-based brand development during the last few years. Joep thrives in a creative environment surrounded by talented people with energy.
Favorite Restaurant: Ha’Salon by Eyal Shani, Tel Aviv
Favorite Food: Lebanese / Mediterranean food (halloumi, Fattoush, and hot/cold mezze)
Hanine Daou
Creative Brand F&B
Hanine is an experienced hospitality concept creator and project manager, developing ideas and dreams into successful and loved venues across different global markets. Over the last 10 years she has worked as a consultant for major hotel groups and top restaurant groups.
Favorite Restaurant: La Maison du Caviar
Favorite Food: Fresh, warm Saj bread with Lebanese Labne, zaatar, green olives and fresh garden vegetables (tomatoes, wild cucumbers, and mint)
Helen White
Creative Specialist Brand F&B
Helen is an experienced creative, having worked with a diverse range of clients such as Boots, Pearson, Bupa, London Underground, the Post Office and Center Parcs. She brings knowledge of branding and design development and a deep understanding of process with a passion for design that looks great and works well.
Favorite Restaurant: Kushi-Ya, Nottingham
Favorite Food: Ramen
Anna Marment
Brand Development Specialist Brand F&B
Anna is a brand consultant working on special projects within the EMEA Brand Food & Beverage Team. Her experience stems from design and branding, having a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and a Master’s in Design Management. Anna has worked across both corporate and agency side, starting out in Design Management at a top agency in London, moving on to work with numerous agencies across the Midlands as well as 6 years in HSBC’s Marketing Department. Anna now has over 10 years experience of working with Hilton.
Favorite Restaurant: Konoba Knez Country House, Dubrovnik
Favorite Food: Salmon pasta or Guinness cake from The Copper Kettle, St. Just
Mica Martino
Senior Brand Creative
Mica is a Senior Brand Creative and Art Director with 14 years’ experience working for global brands within luxury, lifestyle, hospitality, and retail. She began her career as a Graphic Designer in Barcelona before going on to take a Master’s Degree in Branding & Identity at London College of Communication.
Since then, she has been working in brand agencies and studios in London and for the past 7 years her focus has been working on hospitality and lifestyle projects. Her approach is holistic, and it involves developing brand creative concepts through product, interiors, and graphic collateral. As Senior Brand Creative she worked on branding projects from concept strategy to design and experiences with clients such as W Hotels, Loacker, Gail’s Bakery, St Regis, Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio.
Favorite Restaurant: Sketch, London / Bar El Tomas de Sarria, Barcelona
Favorite Food: Steak Tartar / ‘Huevos estrellados’
Leadership
Adam Crocini
Senior Vice President, Global Head Brand F&B
Adam is the senior vice president and global head of Brand F&B at Hilton where he oversees the strategy, development and innovation for Hilton’s food and beverage experiences across Hilton’s portfolio of 22 world-class brands. Prior to Hilton, Adam spent close to 25 years in restaurant operations and brand development for Wolfgang Puck and Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Le Coucou
Americas
Catherine Ker
Director, Brand F&B
Catherine has over a decade of experience in F&B development and operations. She has lead teams at a range of independent restaurants and bars, from quick service restaurants to Michelin-starred destinations. Catherine has her Certified Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Quenelle de Brochet from Le Coucou
Richard Cohn
Director, Brand F&B
Richard is an aspiring polymath who takes inspiration from the intersection between food, restaurants, art, culture, and design. He is privileged to lead an immensely talented team of creatives, ex-operators, and restaurant development professionals. Richard calls D.C home and is fortunate to look over Hilton’s portfolio across the United States and the Caribbean and Latin America.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Basque/N. Spain or a classic Brasserie
Beth Goodwin
Manager, Brand F&B Development
Beth grew up in the food-focused San Francisco Bay Area and started her career in the kitchens of Chez Panisse. Previously, Beth worked in restaurant development for Major Food Group and was a culinary consultant for Soho House and James Beard Award-winning Maison Premiere. She is a graduate of the Hotel School at Cornell University and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Thai Diner (NY, NY) and The Four Horsemen (Brooklyn, NY)
Jake Schaffer
Manager, Brand F&B Development
Growing up in Los Angeles, Jake was exposed to a variety of cuisines which ignited an interest in food that has become a career. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Administration from Cornell University, he spent time working in restaurant operations and development in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York City. Currently based in Brooklyn, NY, Jake is excited to work at the intersection of hospitality and design at Hilton.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Marcona Almonds
Cody Hochheiser
Manager, Brand F&B
Cody found a professional outlet for his lifelong food obsession through 10 years of restaurant work in operations and business development – mostly in his hometown of D.C. These roles were sandwiched between a songwriting deal with Warner Bros. and an MBA from Cornell, with a dash of CPG brand management. Cody’s thrilled to return to his favorite city and industry to work with a Hilton team stacked with talent and passion for hospitality.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: A cheese plate with at least one unspeakably stinky selection
Aisling Gould
Senior Manager, Brand F&B
Aisling discovered her passion for F&B as a child obsessed with the workings of the three-sink behind the bar at her father’s micro-brewery in South Dakota. She pursued a degree in Hospitality Management from the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at the University of Denver, where she developed a love for fine dining and lodging. Upon graduating, she accumulated over 10 years of operational experience, leading acclaimed, high-volume restaurants in both Washington D.C. and New York. She eagerly anticipates returning to DC for the Le Diplomate breadbasket, which sustained her through the early parts of her career.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Steak Sandwich at Pastis NY
Marc Rios
Manager, Brand F&B Programs
From an early age, Marc has loved everything food and beverage and is excited to continue expanding his palate at Hilton. After graduating from the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, his various positions took him to Chicago, Arizona, and Washington, DC. With over a decade of operational experience, Marc has worked for leading restaurant, hotel, and spirit companies such as Lettuce Entertain You, Marriott International, and Angel’s Envy.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Steak Tartare at Armitage Alehouse
Marie McAllister
Analyst, Brand F&B Development
Marie’s ambition to embody hospitality and evoke emotion through design shines through in her experience thus far. Upon graduating from Cornell, she gained an experiential foundation working at Four Seasons to propel her future roles. Today, she is immersed in the food & beverage space supporting our team.
Favorite Restaurant/Food: Crab Rangoon
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Hannah Davies
Senior Director Brand F&B Strategy
Hannah loves creative and strategic challenges and with over 25 years in hospitality she has driven the development of many of the industry’s leading concepts. At Hakkasan, ETM Group, Selfridges and Caprice Holdings she has created and grown high quality, complex F&B businesses and collaborated effectively with a variety of global stakeholders. Hannah thrives in a dynamic and social environment and enjoys sharing her passion for F&B with those around her.
Favorite Restaurant: The Test Kitchen, Cape Town
Favorite Food: Tataki
Fayaz Nazeer
Senior Director Brand F&B Creative
Fayaz has led the creative F&B concepting and programming for Hilton’s hotels and resorts in EMEA for over five years, having previously worked for d.ream project managing and opening world-class restaurant brand Nusr-Et, and conceptualizing and opening Ruya, Esquire Middle East’s best restaurant in 2018. He is passionate about bringing creativity and technology into his work.
Favorite Restaurant: 11 Woodfire, Dubai
Favorite Food: Beef Rendang and Curry
George Blower
Senior Creative Brand F&B
George is a creative strategist with 10+ years of brand F&B experience. His work has taken him from launching food and beverage D2C and B2B brands into the world at fast-paced startups and global giants. He’s also a trained chef graduating from Leith’s School of Food & Wine, and an alumni of the MAD Copenhagen Academy, which has seen him work with the likes of Douglas McMaster (Silo), Nuno Mendes and open his own kitchen residency in Cornwall, UK. The third string to his bow is working at esteemed hospitality design studios across the lifestyle and luxury sectors on hotels and resorts, restaurants and bars, and wellness retreats.
Favorite Restaurant: Towpath Café
Favorite Food: Anchovies
Joep Sondeijker
Project Manager Brand F&B
Joep brings with him 15 years of experience in hospitality. At Accor, IHG and Sircle Collection, he held various hotel F&B development and operational roles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Hospitality Management at the Hotelschool The Hague. Joep discovered his passion for strategic & project-based brand development during the last few years. Joep thrives in a creative environment surrounded by talented people with energy.
Favorite Restaurant: Ha’Salon by Eyal Shani, Tel Aviv
Favorite Food: Lebanese / Mediterranean food (halloumi, Fattoush, and hot/cold mezze)
Hanine Daou
Creative Brand F&B
Hanine is an experienced hospitality concept creator and project manager, developing ideas and dreams into successful and loved venues across different global markets. Over the last 10 years she has worked as a consultant for major hotel groups and top restaurant groups.
Favorite Restaurant: La Maison du Caviar
Favorite Food: Fresh, warm Saj bread with Lebanese Labne, zaatar, green olives and fresh garden vegetables (tomatoes, wild cucumbers, and mint)
Helen White
Creative Specialist Brand F&B
Helen is an experienced creative, having worked with a diverse range of clients such as Boots, Pearson, Bupa, London Underground, the Post Office and Center Parcs. She brings knowledge of branding and design development and a deep understanding of process with a passion for design that looks great and works well.
Favorite Restaurant: Kushi-Ya, Nottingham
Favorite Food: Ramen
Anna Marment
Brand Development Specialist Brand F&B
Anna is a brand consultant working on special projects within the EMEA Brand Food & Beverage Team. Her experience stems from design and branding, having a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and a Master’s in Design Management. Anna has worked across both corporate and agency side, starting out in Design Management at a top agency in London, moving on to work with numerous agencies across the Midlands as well as 6 years in HSBC’s Marketing Department. Anna now has over 10 years experience of working with Hilton.
Favorite Restaurant: Konoba Knez Country House, Dubrovnik
Favorite Food: Salmon pasta or Guinness cake from The Copper Kettle, St. Just
Mica Martino
Senior Brand Creative
Mica is a Senior Brand Creative and Art Director with 14 years’ experience working for global brands within luxury, lifestyle, hospitality, and retail. She began her career as a Graphic Designer in Barcelona before going on to take a Master’s Degree in Branding & Identity at London College of Communication.
Since then, she has been working in brand agencies and studios in London and for the past 7 years her focus has been working on hospitality and lifestyle projects. Her approach is holistic, and it involves developing brand creative concepts through product, interiors, and graphic collateral. As Senior Brand Creative she worked on branding projects from concept strategy to design and experiences with clients such as W Hotels, Loacker, Gail’s Bakery, St Regis, Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio.
Favorite Restaurant: Sketch, London / Bar El Tomas de Sarria, Barcelona
Favorite Food: Steak Tartar / ‘Huevos estrellados’