Interview: Noma’s COO Is Driven by More Than Financial Gains
Skift Take
Financial success is just one of the metrics used to determine whether a new investment or partnership is right for Noma, and it often isn't the top concern.
On Monday, September 24, Skift Table hosted its first ever Skift Restaurants Forum.
The day-long event featured interviews with restaurateurs, technology leaders, operators, and chefs, as well as an audience of over 300 people from across the restaurant industry.
Don't mistake Noma chief operating officer Ben Liebmann's corporate background for someone who's business decisions are driven solely by financial impact. Ever since joining Noma nearly three years ago, Liebmann has been approaching his position in ways that you don't often hear from the person in charge of restaurant operations: for example, when deciding whether Rosio Sanchez, one of many talented chefs to be backed by Noma, should move into international expansion, Liebmann explained that his first question isn't, 'What market would best support a Rosio Sanchez taqueria?' but rather, 'Where does Sanchez want to travel?'
When Liebmann and Noma's head chef and co-owner René Redzepi were deciding to invest in Richard Hart,
