MIKE WILKINSON
Mecca
Summary
Executive Chef and Culinary Director with 15+ years’ international experience leading luxury 5-star hotel operations, fine dining, large-scale banqueting, and multi-outlet F&B environments across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the GCC. Specialist in European/French fine dining, Modern British cuisine, high-volume catering, and concept development. Proven leader in budgeting and forecasting, procurement, food cost optimization, HACCP and ISO 22000 frameworks, and building high-performing multicultural teams in complex operations. Led teams of up to 150 culinary and stewarding professionals in high-volume luxury environments. Trusted to deliver bespoke culinary experiences for VVIP, royal, and UHNW guests in high-security and confidential luxury environments.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
EXECUTIVE CHEF / CULINARY DIRECTOR
Address Jabal Omar Makkah
02.2023 - Current
- Leading culinary operations across 4 all-day dining venues, in-room dining, 2 banquet halls, 2 club lounges, and 2 lobby lounges.
- Oversaw annual food revenue of SAR 97M while maintaining a 24% food cost (FY2025) across a 1,500-room luxury multi-outlet operation.
- Directed culinary strategy, innovation, and new concept development.
- Strengthened SOP governance and audit readiness contributing to Forbes Travel Guide 4-Star rating (2025).
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, waste management, and operational workflow systems.
- Mentor culinary and service leadership teams; represent the hotel in media and brand publications.
- Led multicultural teams of up to 150 staff.
CULINARY DIRECTOR / GROUP CHEF
Narcissus Hotel Riyadh & Braira Hotels Group
03.2020 - 02.2023
- Directed F&B operations across 10 hotels; led brand positioning and culinary standardization.
- Increased portfolio food sales by 15% and reduced food waste by 12% through strategic controls.
- Improved profitability through cost optimization, procurement strategy, and SOP development.
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Crowne Plaza RDC Riyadh
03.2018 - 03.2020
- Maintained 25% food cost across SAR 94–95M annual food revenue; reduced waste by 10%.
- Managed 60 chefs and 20 stewards across multiple outlets and large-scale banqueting operations.
EXECUTIVE F&B (Contract)
Dusit D2 Dubai
03.2017 - 03.2018
- Achieved HACCP certification and improved GP margins; enhanced brand positioning and guest rankings.
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena
11.2014 - 03.2017
- Managed 8 outlets and 25 meeting rooms; led culinary operations for international sporting events.
COMPLEX EXECUTIVE CHEF
Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel
07.2013 - 10.2014
- Oversaw banqueting, outside catering, and multi-outlet kitchen operations.
Education
NVQ Level 3 Diploma - Professional Cookery Diploma
Oldham College
UKSkills
- Luxury Hotel Kitchen Operations
- Multi-Outlet Operations
- Large-Scale Banqueting & Events
- Culinary Strategy
- Concept Development
- Menu Engineering
- Food Cost Control
- GP Optimization
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Waste Management
- Procurement & Supplier Negotiation
- HACCP
- ISO 22000
- LQA & Forbes Standards
- SOP Development
- Staff Training
- Pre-Opening & Rebranding
- Revenue Growth
- Outside Catering & Off-Site Events
- Culinary creativity
- Recipe development
- Food safety compliance
- Inventory control
- Budget management
- Purchasing strategy
- Team leadership
- Cost optimization
Certification
- HACCP Level 3
- ISO 22000 Lead Auditor
- Forbes Standards Implementation
- LQA Standards
- CHRP Certified
Accomplishments
- Lobby Lounge of the Year 2024, Address Jabal Omar Makkah (JODC), 2024-01-01
- Club Lounge of the Year 2024, Address Jabal Omar Makkah (JODC), 2024-01-01
- Best Hotel in the Middle East 2024, Address Jabal Omar Makkah, 2024-01-01
Languages
English
Arabic
French
Custom Section
- Led VIP hospitality and bespoke culinary operations for Hajj and Umrah premium tent services, delivering high-end dining experiences at large-scale religious events.
- Managed elite outside catering and VIP culinary services for international sports-related events associated with leading football clubs including Barcelona FC, Al-Nassr FC, and Boca Juniors.
Systems
- Opera PMS
- MICROS POS
- Oasys Payroll
- Oracle ERP
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- MC Material Control
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-wilkinson-19906a14b
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide 4-Star Rating, Address Jabal Omar Makkah, 2025-01-01
- Shortlisted: Executive Chef of the Year, Hotelier Saudi Awards, 2026-01-01
- Michelin Bib Gourmand, The Wordsworth Hotel, UK, 2017-01-01
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
EXECUTIVE CHEF / CULINARY DIRECTOR
Address Jabal Omar Makkah
02.2023 - Current
CULINARY DIRECTOR / GROUP CHEF
Narcissus Hotel Riyadh & Braira Hotels Group
03.2020 - 02.2023
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Crowne Plaza RDC Riyadh
03.2018 - 03.2020
EXECUTIVE F&B (Contract)
Dusit D2 Dubai
03.2017 - 03.2018
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena
11.2014 - 03.2017
COMPLEX EXECUTIVE CHEF
Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel
07.2013 - 10.2014
NVQ Level 3 Diploma - Professional Cookery Diploma
Oldham College