PizzaExpress has appointed Inji Duducu (pictured above) as its new Chief People Officer, starting in December.
She will join the leadership team and oversee the company’s people strategy.
Duducu brings over 25 years of experience in human resources across banking, insurance, healthcare, and retail.
Her expertise spans business partnering, learning and development, commercial functions, and diversity and inclusion.
She most recently served as Group People Director at Poundstretcher, where she helped establish leadership, trading, and finance teams following an acquisition.
Before that, she was People Director at Morrisons, overseeing 12,000 employees, integrating a convenience business, and managing employee relations and reward programs.
Despite the demands of running a rapidly expanding company, Choudhary has learned to find balance, something he didn’t always have. These days, he’s an early riser, front-loading his weekdays with office work before spending afternoons on-site visits and store builds.
Evenings are reserved for football and gym sessions, and weekends are kept for family. “Sunday lunch at my mum’s house—that’s the recharge,” he says with a smile.
Among his proudest milestones is winning an international franchise of the year award earlier in his career, besting competitors across 30 markets, but he’s just as proud of The Sushi Co’s present trajectory. He said: “It’s been incredible to watch it grow. And we’re only getting started.”
When asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Choudhary was quick to reply: “Learn to walk before you run. There are no shortcuts. Move with care, build the right team, and think everything through.”
For prospective franchisees eyeing entry into the booming sushi space, The Sushi Co is currently welcoming applications.
Choudhary says: “We’re looking for experienced QSR and business professionals ready to invest in a proven, fast-growing concept. This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the casual dining market, and we’re here to lead it.”
As The Sushi Co expands across the UK, Choudhary is showing that scale doesn’t have to mean compromise. With handcrafted sushi at its core and a franchise model built on training, quality, and support, he’s not just growing a brand, he’s setting a new standard for what fast-casual dining can deliver.
