Sticks’n’Sushi appoints new chief people officer
Karl Jolly’s appointment comes as the 30-site group enters what it described as the next phase of its 31-year development
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Sticks’n’Sushi has announced the appointment of Karl Jolly to the role of chief people officer, as the Danish restaurant group prepares for further expansion across the UK and mainland Europe.
Jolly returns to the business after three years at New World Trading Company, where he was people director supporting more than 1,200 staff. He previously spent five years at Sticks’n’Sushi in senior HR roles.
The appointment comes as the 30-site group enters what it described as the next phase of its 31-year development, centred on sustainable international growth and a focus on people leadership.
With more than 25 years of HR experience across retail and hospitality, Jolly has held roles at several major brands, including TGI Fridays, Pret A Manger, Mitchells and Butlers and Welcome Break. His background includes work with Starbucks, KFC and Waitrose.
In his new role, Jolly will oversee people strategy across more than 1,400 staff in the UK, Denmark and Germany. His remit includes maintaining the group’s low employee turnover, strengthening operational leadership and supporting talent development.
Andreas Karlsson, chief executive of Sticks’n’Sushi, said: “I am delighted to announce that Karl Jolly is back with us as chief people officer at Sticks’n’Sushi. He will be instrumental in supporting us in developing our teams, building strong leadership as we enter new markets.”
Jolly added: “It’s an exciting time to be rejoining the Sticks’n’Sushi family. I look forward to developing our people, attracting new talent and further strengthening our culture and leadership team as the brand expands.”
Sticks’n’Sushi was founded in Copenhagen in 1994 by Jens Rahbek, Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen. It now operates 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, three in Berlin and 15 in the UK.
UK sites include Wimbledon, Covent Garden, Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Victoria, King’s Road, Soho, White City, Shoreditch, Kingston, Oxford, Cambridge, Richmond, Islington and Battersea. New openings are scheduled for Glasgow in December and Manchester in spring 2026.
The group’s growth plans follow ongoing expansion in major regional cities and continued investment in its UK estate, which has been a core market for more than a decade.
