When Rebecca Cuthbertson stepped into her first shift at Maki & Ramen in the summer of 2021, she wasn’t plotting a marketing career.
Fresh out of Heriot-Watt University with a degree in Fashion Communications, she had taken on a part-time front-of-house role at the Japanese dining chain’s Leith Street branch in Edinburgh. Just three years later, she now leads national marketing strategy for one of the UK’s most ambitious QSR brands.
Rebecca said: “I was hired straight out of university. What started as a side job quickly became something I genuinely cared about. I became passionate about the culture and the people.”
Rebecca’s dedication, creative insight, and natural leadership didn’t go unnoticed. Within a year, she was promoted to Digital Marketing Coordinator, and by the summer of 2024, just three years after joining, she became the brand’s Marketing Lead.
Her rise within Maki & Ramen is rooted not only in her skill, but in the supportive environment cultivated by leadership figures like CEO Teddy Lee and COO Michael Salvador.
“They believed in me,” she reflects, “and through their mentorship, I’ve been able to develop a career that I’m genuinely passionate about.”
That support, she believes, has been key to her development, and emblematic of the company as a whole. “We’re not just a restaurant brand. We’re a team, and people stay because they’re part of something.”
Since opening its first store in Edinburgh a decade ago, Maki & Ramen has been on a steady growth trajectory, blending the quality of high-end Japanese cuisine with the accessibility of fast casual dining. Today, it boasts sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and, most recently, Newcastle, its tenth location and its first in the North East.
Her own experience is testament to the brand’s culture of growth. “People are often surprised to hear I started out part-time,” she laughs. “But the truth is, so many of the people I worked with back then are still here. That loyalty says everything about the kind of company this is.”
As Marketing Lead, Rebecca is responsible for shaping how the brand speaks to its customers, both in-store and online. “No two days are ever the same,” she says. “I could be coordinating a campaign, brainstorming creative content, or liaising with restaurant teams across the UK. That variety is what keeps it exciting.”
Her work isn’t just about driving sales, it’s about shaping identity. One of her proudest moments was launching Maki & Ramen’s charity partnership programme, which now supports six UK charities every month through ramen sales.
She explains: “Marketing can and should go beyond the commercial. It should reflect values and create positive impact.”
Her work also reflects the company’s mission to make Japanese cuisine more accessible and inclusive, with menus featuring halal-friendly, vegan and vegetarian options.
But getting here wasn’t without its learning curves. Early in her marketing journey, Rebecca admits to overlooking details that led to minor errors. “It taught me the importance of triple-checking everything. In marketing, every post, image, or asset is a reflection of your brand.”
What sets Rebecca apart is not just her marketing prowess, but her grounded leadership. Now leading a growing team, she focuses on collaboration and clear communication: “We’ve built a close-knit group. We share wins, talk through challenges, and genuinely support each other.”
One of the most defining milestones during her tenure was when the Leeds site was awarded Best Asian Food Restaurant at the British QSR Franchise Awards 2025, a moment she describes as a proud reflection of the team’s hard work and the brand’s growing reputation.
She said: “Seeing our team’s hard work recognised on such a public scale was incredibly rewarding.”
This was one of several accolades the brand has received during Rebecca’s time including Japanese Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Asian Food Awards 2024 and Japanese Restaurant Chain of the Year at the SME UK Enterprise Awards 2023.
Today, she makes it a priority to instil that same discipline in her team, while also encouraging creativity and risk-taking. She said: “Marketing should be fun. You have to be brave enough to try new things, and humble enough to learn when it doesn’t go to plan.”
Outside of work, Rebecca values balance, saying: “Spending time with friends and family, taking walks, those moments of rest keep me centred. It’s how I stay grounded and bring my best self to work.”
Reflecting on her journey, Rebecca offers a piece of advice to her younger self, and to others just starting out: “Don’t stress about having all the answers. Stay curious. Ask questions. Enjoy the ride.”
With a clear voice, a strong vision, and a company that champions both, Rebecca Cuthbertson is helping shape the next chapter of modern Japanese dining in the UK, one campaign at a time.
