Ringenson in charge as Kissin goes to NY

Joel Kissin, managing director of Conran Restaurants since the company was established in 1991, is to relocate to New York, where he will run a new US division.

The firm's first US restaurant is due to open in 1998 as part of a development under and around the 59th Street Bridge in Manhattan, New York. The company hopes to open more restaurants in the USA in future.

Kai Ringenson has been appointed to succeed Mr Kissin as managing director of Conran Restaurants in the UK from 4 August.

Mr Ringenson was formerly managing director of Securum Holdings, the company formed in 1992 to manage the hotel assets of failed Swedish bank Nordbanken. It has now sold off all but one of the hotels.

Conran's development director, David Loewi, will take on the additional role of operations director for the UK.