- Meet the people shaping the future of gastronomy
Contact Us
Tim Brooke-Webb
Managing Director
Tim has led 50 Best since 2009, overseeing more than a decade of growth that included the launches of Asia’s and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, #50BestTalks, the acquisition of The World’s 50 Best Bars and the 50 Best for Recovery programme. A super-car fan, he is happiest when taking a spin at Goodwood or travelling the world to discover new cuisines.
What’s Next: Tim looks forward to unveiling a new host destination for Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and other exciting initiatives in 2021.
William Drew
Director of Content
After a decade at the helm of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, William has organised, curated and presented at culinary events in more than 20 cities. A journalist and editor with two decades of experience, he loves nothing more than to interview chefs and bartenders. He is constantly in search of the next great restaurant and has taken up running to counteract the effect on his waistline.
What’s Next: In 2021 and beyond, William is committed to promoting diversity across the 50 Best lists and content.
Laura Price
Project Manager - 50 Next
Happiest when eating home-cooked meals, Laura is a lifelong food obsessive who travels to eat. After five years as Deputy Editor for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars, she now leads editorial content for 50 Next, an initiative she hopes will uncover people fighting for the health of the planet and championing change. Laura writes about food and travel and considers Brazil her second home.
What’s Next: Travel less, for longer. In 2021, she hopes to reschedule Covid-cancelled trips to Georgia and Mexico.
Rikki Tidball
Group Operations Manager
As the longest-serving member of Team 50 Best, Rikki has been organising the annual awards ceremonies since El Bulli was crowned No.1 in London in 2009. Fun-loving but ferociously well-organised, she is passionate about all things logistics and led operations at events from Bilbao to Macau.
What's Next: A keen decorator, Rikki looks forward to putting the finishing touches on her country pile after a cosy year at home due to unexpected travel cancellations.
Tiago Restani
Director of Partnerships - 50 Best Restaurants
A marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience, both in agencies and client side, Tiago has led international fashion projects and delivered unforgettable experiential events to luxury brands. He joined the 50 Best team in 2016 after moving to London from the sunny Algarve.
What’s Next: Tiago looks forward to a lift in travel restrictions so he can spend more time in his native Portugal and travel the world building new partnerships and discovering new fine dining experiences.
Roger Betriu
Director of Partnerships - 50 Best Bars
With nearly 15 years’ experience in marketing and sales in the publishing and events sector, Roger played a key role in the first World’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony in 2009. He later joined the 50 Best Restaurants team from Drinks International in 2017 to enhance the 50 Best portfolio. Roger previously held roles in aviation, hospitality and food & beverages. He hails from sunny Barcelona, Spain.
What’s Next: After celebrating The World’s 50 Best Bars 10th anniversary in 2019, Roger has more exciting hospitality projects in the pipeline – watch this space!
James Andrews
Sponsorship Sales Manager
A keen globetrotter and food discoverer, James spent three years living in Beijing, where he learned Mandarin and taught English. He joined 50 Best in 2019 to combine his extensive sponsorship sales experience with his passion for food. He is perhaps best known for his unforgettable appearance on a TV game show, where he appeared red-faced after mispronouncing the capital city of Suriname.
What’s next: James is moving to Brighton to be closer to the sea and is determined to learn to cook Indian food (after many failed attempts).
Kate Ransley
Partnerships Account Manager
Kate joined the 50 Best team in 2017, having enjoyed a successful career in sales and sponsorship in the UK and overseas, including two years in New Zealand. She has experience working in major international food and wine events and festivals and brings a passion for people and communication to her work.
What Next? Kate is a busy Mum and enjoys cooking at home with her young son, hoping to inspire a love of culinary discovery in the next generation.
Romy Newman
Partnerships Account Manager
With a background in the luxury events market across Europe, Romy has also worked in brand development on a global scale. Her experience includes curating unique experiences in the F&B sector, album launches, fashion events and international charity galas. She joined the 50 Best team in 2019.
What’s Next: After a travel-free year, Romy is looking forward to a trip home to South Africa, where she grew up on a humble fruit farm that shaped her 'can-do' attitude.
Mark Sansom
Content Editor
Mark joined the 50 Best team in 2019 after five years as Editor of Food and Travel, the world’s leading gastronomic tourism magazine. Before that, he was Food and Drink Editor on Men’s Health and News Editor at London’s Squaremeal. When not eating out in the name of good and proper research, he hits golf balls along the floor and cricket balls in the air.
What’s Next: With a passion for fine booze and well-crafted cocktails, Mark intends to give the brightest talents in the drinks industry the platform to showcase their art.
Emer Schlosser
Marketing and Social Media Manager
Emer joined the 50 Best team all the way from Canada, home to hockey and poutine. She began as an entertainment journalist, weaving her way through advertising, copywriting and on to the wonderful world of social media. Her expertise in the latter is put to use through all of The World's 50 Best Restaurants and The World's 50 Best Bars platforms and she is charging forward with exciting new marketing plans.
What's Next? Emer is looking forward to new releases and the reopening of cinemas so she can pursue her passion for all things film.
Persia Samandi
Associate Social Media Manager
Persia is responsible for managing the #Worlds50Best restaurants and #50BestBars social platforms as well as building and maintaining relationships with the wider 50 Best community, including TasteHunters. In her spare time, she loves exploring foodie spots, sipping on cocktails around the globe and discovering the latest gourmet news via Instagram.
What’s Next: Persia is on a constant drive to create more engaging visual and storytelling content and to grow 50 Best’s social media audiences.
Giulia Sgarbi
Deputy Content Editor
Italian native Giulia has been writing restaurant news and features for 50 Best since 2017, as well as producing live event coverage and managing liaisons with chefs and bartenders. Giulia is also a qualified volleyball coach, speaks three languages and equally loves writing, travelling and eating.
What’s Next: As part of the #5050IstheNew50 initiative, Giulia looks forward to continuing to promote and support women in restaurants and bars in 2021.
Rose Hobbs
Multimedia Producer
Rose joined 50 Best in 2019 to put to good use her skills and love for all forms of visual communication that can tell powerful and inspirational stories. Brought up between Italy and England, she loves all things foodie, exploring new cultures through dishes, hiking in the woods, and good art-house movies.
What’s Next: Rose can’t wait to get back out on film shoots in 2021 and is keen to further grow The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and 50 Best Bars YouTube channels.
Sophie Binns
Event Manager
With a background encompassing high-end event management, travel and hospitality, Sophie has planned creative international events in venues ranging from royal palaces to former distilleries. In her free time she's a passionate writer, reader and self-confessed foodie. At weekends, you’ll find her dragging her friends to themed bars, immersive plays and adventure festivals.
What's Next: Sophie is excited to travel again and hopes to find inspiration for new stories on her trips.
Hester Doran
Associate Event Manager
Hester joined the 50 Best team in 2018 and is responsible for the project management of The World’s 50 Best Bars, Asia’s 50 Best Bars and #50BestTalks. She marries her systematic and methodical approach to work with a keen eye for detail and a passion for baking cakes, playing netball and running.
What’s Next: Having cracked cupcakes, Hester is now working on the perfect doughnut while also aiming to improve her personal best over 5km.
Joel Cowley
Junior Content Producer
Having worked in London as social media content creator for a courier service, Joel developed a love for food and all things media related, which inspired him to join 50 Best. He brings his passion for satisfying visuals to the role, along with a love for well-written posts that induce emotion. In his spare time, he creates short films of all genres, enjoys cooking at home and plays his guitar.
What's Next: Joel is looking forward to a lift in restrictions so he can start producing the scripts he has written over lockdown.
Robert Proctor
WRBM Company Secretary and General Counsel
+44 (0) 1293 610401Vincent Renaud
Data Protection Officer
+44 (0)1293 610444