United Kingdom, December 2025 — Wahaca has announced the appointment of Rupi Zani as Head of People and Culture, effective December 2025. In this role, Rupi will lead the people and culture agenda for the organisation, supporting Wahaca’s commitment to creating an engaging, values-driven workplace that enables teams to thrive while delivering outstanding guest experiences.
In her new role at Wahaca, Rupi Zani brings extensive experience across people, wellbeing, safety, integrity, and culture leadership within the hospitality and services sectors. As Head of People and Culture, she is responsible for shaping people strategy, embedding wellbeing and inclusion, and strengthening organisational culture across the business.
Prior to joining Wahaca, Rupi served at Côte Restaurants, where she held senior leadership roles including Business Integrity Director and Risk and Compliance Director. In these roles, she led initiatives across crisis management, behavioural safety, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, charity partnerships, and organisational safety, supporting ethical governance and sustainable people practices across the organisation.
Earlier, Rupi worked with Best True Self on a contract basis, focusing on health and wellbeing, leadership support, and advisory work. This role further strengthened her expertise in wellbeing strategy, coaching, and organisational health.
Rupi spent over two decades at PizzaExpress, where she held senior leadership positions including Safety and Wellbeing Director and Quality and Safety Director. Across her long tenure, she led large-scale safety, wellbeing, and quality initiatives, contributing to long-term organisational resilience, employee wellbeing, and operational excellence.
About Wahaca
Founded by MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby, Wahaca was inspired by the vibrant markets of Oaxaca, the culinary heart of Mexico. The brand is built on a love of honest Mexican market food and a strong sense of community. Wahaca is a growing and innovative company focused on creating an environment that is as enjoyable for its teams as it is for its guests, delivering Mexican-inspired food and great service in a lively and inclusive atmosphere. The company places a strong emphasis on its people, living by its values and fostering a culture where teams are encouraged to work hard, celebrate together, and grow.
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