Get in touch
Come and talk to us about your vision and we will get to work to bring your ideas to life in ways you can’t imagine.
The Team
MARK JANKEL
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mark is the exponent and driving force of The Food Initiative’s primary objective - to deliver edible emotion in every bite. Mark’s creativity and imagination bring our events to life in new and inventive ways and his love of people ensures that every client is treated with absolute love, care and attention. Mark’s approach to cooking is defined by flavour and quality of ingredients paired with a talent to present food with simple refinement and style.
CHARLOTTE SELBIE
HEAD OF EVENTS
Charlie, our amazing Head of Events, has worked at the very top end of the event business in London for the last eighteen years. Charlie was Senior Event Planner at Rocket Food and later Head of Operations. Charlie joined us from Head of Sales and Events at Tate Galleries where she ran Tate Entertaining. Charlie takes immense pride in delivering extraordinary event experiences for every single guest and leverages her years of experience to relentlessly plan her events to deliver faultless execution.
TESS AIRD
EVENT MANAGER
Tess joined our team in early 2024 new to events, with a desire to learn how to run and manage events at the highest level and act as an operational support to the team. Tess is also part of our kitchen team allowing her to continue her passion for cooking and food. Tess’s positive energy helps bring the whole team together on events and her willingness to pitch in wherever is needed gives the team a priceless asset!
GARRETT O’BRIEN
EXEC CHEF
Garrett and Mark have worked together and been great friends for the last fifteen years. Their food philosophies are very much aligned: they strive for culinary perfection using quality ingredients with immense care and attention to deliver elegant, refined and simple dishes. Garrett’s calm aura and wise approach drives the team and gives them the environment in which to deliver perfectly executed food at every event.
JOHN MADDEN
HEAD CHEF
John has worked for the last seven years with Mark, in which time he headed up Mark’s prep kitchen for five years and has become a great friend. John’s meticulous and thoughtful approach to cooking ensures that every element of every dish is perfectly executed - he is immense. Not only is John an exceptional chef but he is such a lovely guy who unites the team and creates a friendly and relaxed vibe in the kitchen.
CHARLOTTE HUMPHREY
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Charlotte has become part of the family over the last two years. She is a total perfectionist when it comes to the planning and execution of our events. Charlotte pours years of experience, love and passion into every event - it is such a pleasure to watch her work. Together with Charlie she makes a rock solid duo - you genuinely couldn’t find a more meticulous and uncompromising pair.
Work With Us
Our people are the biggest part of what we do, helping to translate our clients ideas and always going above and beyond to make sure our guests have an extraordinary experience. It’s what makes us different.
Being part of the The Food Initiative family requires creativity, charm, confidence and a natural instinct to strive for excellence in every part of your work. You’ll be working on unique and incredible events that you will be very proud to be a part of.
If you are professional, committed, creative and driven to deliver incredible events then we’d love to hear from you.