The WhiteSpace Partners team combines the complementary skill sets of a unique group of cohesive professionals, forming an unparalleled strategic resource. Working with us really can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your goals.
Whilst our individual proven track records in the sector over decades, formidable combined expertise, and unmatched international networks speak for themselves, we believe it’s our inimitable mix of personalities, nationalities and characters that adds that extra serving of secret sauce.
Our team tackles every brief and project with a proactive, hands-on approach built on trust and transparency. We value creative collaboration, the building of strong relationships and long-term loyalty. So, when you work with us, it’s a partnership in the truest sense.
Mario C. Bauer
Co-FOUNDER
Mario is, amongst other things, a visionary, brand ambassador, entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker, and has been profoundly devoted to food since spending his childhood in his family’s restaurant in Austria. Prior to recently joining AmRest Holdings, the largest independent multi-brand restaurant operator in Central and Eastern Europe, as brand ambassador, he led international growth and partnerships at Vapiano for over a decade. Given he and his team have opened and operated over 200 restaurants in 33 countries around the world, it’s amazing that he manages to find the time to also get involved in an organic boutique ketchup from Tuscany and entertain friends on his Amsterdam houseboat! A larger than life personality, Mario bonds with people immediately and gains their support. His skills as a natural leader and communicator only further his ability to excite with his entrepreneurial creativity.
Alexander Eberl
EXTERNAL ADVISOR
Known for his long-standing track record as a dealmaker and connector with leaders throughout the restaurant sector, Alex has an impressive resume. Learning the ropes in hospitality from the ground up, he began his career traveling the world as a waiter in the Formula One Paddock Club with Do&Co. Following influential stints in several senior management positions with industry-leading brands, including COO of dean&david, and VP of International Franchising at Vapiano, he has prosperously advised clients on corporate strategy, international expansion, franchising and M&A. His remarkable talent with languages, understanding of over 50 different countries and his background in International Business Administration make him a skilled bridge builder between cultures, mentalities and industries.
Vincent Mourre
Co-FOUNDER & CEO
Vincent began his career in corporate and investment banking before his passion for food led the way to creating, developing and managing a number of successful food and beverage groups. With over 20 years’ experience as a food service CEO, senior consultant focussed on international restaurant group growth and private equity advisor, his extensive operational know how is matched only by his instinctive strategic insight and financial acumen. A former president of the European Restaurant Network Leaders Club, Vincent is now the CEO of WhiteSpace Partners, and very much the operative backbone of the company. His structured and methodical approach to organisational detail and project-led precision is second to none.
Guillaume Rochette
Co-FOUNDER
Over the course of 35 years shaping careers in the global restaurant and hotel industries, working across numerous international markets, Guillaume has seen, helped instigate and participated in countless chapters in the evolution of the food service sector. Along the way he’s perfected the art of successfully brokering restaurant franchising deals in both Europe and the Middle East. As co-founder of Hartstone Rochette (formerly Eureka Executive Search), one of the finest international executive hospitality recruitment firms, Guillaume is the consummate connector and networker. His energy and dynamism propels our company forwards, and his strategic approach to new ideas and creative solutions is something we’ve come to rely on.
Jonathan Doughty
CHAIRMAN (NON-EXECUTIVE)
Jonathan, our senior external advisor, brings considerable intelligence to the WhiteSpace Partners team via his expert strategic judgement and specialist knowledge of the food service industry. His current position as a director and the global Head of Foodservice, Leisure and Placemaking at mixed use real estate developer ECE Projektmanagement GmbH marks the culmination of an accomplished 40-year career in the restaurant sector. After many years working for influential international hotel and restaurant brands, he founded innovative food service and leisure real estate consultancy Coverpoint (now JLL Foodservice Consulting), and he counts the role of former worldwide President of FCSI (Foodservice Consultants Society International) amongst his accolades too. Jonathan is one of the most respected executives and recognised thought leaders in the global restaurant and hotel landscape, an honour ratified by his receipt of the coveted Man of The Year award by Across magazine in 2018.
REBECCA VIANI, CFE
PARTNER
Rebecca is a franchising professional with more than 15 years in the industry, specializing in regional and international development, new market entry and expansion and building and growing healthy franchise systems. Throughout her career, Rebecca has led and advised a diverse range of groups, from emerging brands to Fortune 500 companies. Her passion for global markets and cultural immersion have fueled her motivation, as she has worked in and managed teams in South America, the US, the Middle East and Europe. A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Rebecca regularly contributes to the industry as a guest author, speaker and panelist and enjoys mentoring young professionals. Within the WhiteSpace Partners team, she heads the International Development and Franchising Advisory practice, and addresses each new endeavor pragmatically and objectively, with a results-focused approach.
LAURE MAUMUS
CONSULTANT - STRATEGY
Laure is an international retail specialist and a natural born challenger who made her passion for food a reality when she decided to open Wynwood, her own restaurant in Paris in 2015. She had then built a solid retail expertise for 15 years, occupying management and leadership positions in groups such as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Cushman & Wakefield, and French Food Capital. With an unstoppable drive for travel and trends, Laure has lived in the UK, Spain, the US, Brazil, and a few Asian countries, tirelessly hunting for the most striking retail and food concepts. Her extensive experience gave her a broad spectrum of the food industry knowledge. Laure's analytical intelligence do combine in a fine way with her entrepreneurship spirit.
JOSEFA GLÄSER
PROJECT MANAGER
Josefa is a project manager with a strong focus on the hospitality industry who just finished her bachelor thesis about the impact of the pandemic on German company caterers last year. Her career started in a fashion start-up while still being in school. There she built up the Berlin office from scratch after relocating with the company and worked on almost every aspect of the business. Those skills were useful shortly thereafter when she joined a communication agency where she quickly became part of the internal hospitality team, developing individual restaurant concepts or designing tenders for German catering companies. Josefa’s assets are her dedication, her wide range of interests and the ability to connect them to something new. Although her emphasis is on the German market, you will most likely find her working remote from somewhere around the globe.