Jay Gentile

Jay Gentile is an experienced leader in the food and restaurant industry, currently serving as President, Chief Restaurant Officer, and Head of Operations at Local Kitchens since May 2023. Previously, Jay Gentile held various senior roles at Veggie Grill, Inc., including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer from October 2019 to June 2023. Jay also contributed significantly to Caffè Nero as Director USA and Head of Country from November 2012 to November 2019, where responsibilities included the brand's launch and operations in the USA. Prior roles include Regional Vice President at Au Bon Pain, Sr. Vice President of Operations at Fresh City Restaurants, Executive Vice President at Weathervane Seafood Inc., Vice President of Operations at Legal Seafoods, and Regional General Manager at Mortons of Chicago, demonstrating extensive expertise in operations and team leadership across diverse restaurant concepts.