May 12, 2026—CulinArt’s Lindsey Romain, executive chef at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, is participating in the Compass Group Global Culinary Leadership Program (CLP), one of just eight people in the company (worldwide) selected for this educational opportunity for culinary leaders to fast-track transition to operational leader roles.
Lindsey is one of two participants from the United States (see accompanying list). The program stretches over nine months and includes two six-module online programs (Leading with Finance, Strategy Execution) and a six-day High Potentials Leadership Program, both conducted in partnership with (and partially at) Harvard Business School. In late October there will be a three-day tour of Compass Group sites in which participants will experience food scenes and innovations while meeting with Global Culinary executive committee members and Compass Group North America leadership.
Lindsey joined CulinArt in 2015 as manager of culinary development and became executive chef at the UN last year as CulinArt embarked on a renewal of our current agreement. She participated in the Women in Culinary Showcase last year and caught the attention of the CLP as a culinarian who has risen to the occasion.
In its own way, the CLP shrinks the vast portfolio of Compass Group that operates in more than 25 countries on every continent. Each participant is proceeding through the CLP with a mentor; Lindsey’s is Deborah Lee, chief people officer for Compass Group U.K. Lindsey has also connected with Chef Einav Gefen senior VP of global culinary, culture, and talent. “The program has been a great way to make personal connections,” Lindsey says. Navigating it along with work and other commitments “has been my biggest challenge,” she adds.
Through a combination of best-in-class external thinking with Harvard faculty and exposure to key leaders internally, the program is an opportunity for motivated culinarians to grow and develop their careers within Compass Group; it also widens the company’s talent pool for potential senior leaders.
The program was designed to develop the next generation of culinary leaders, joining other such programs as the Women in Culinary Showcase, Upward, Accelerated Manager Program, and Manager in Training. “The global nature of this one makes it stand out,” says Gieselle Poveromo, senior director of talent management for Compass Group USA/B&I. “It prompts us to think about programs beyond the U.S.”
According to Ed Brown, CEO of Restaurant Associates and the program’s creator and Executive Sponsor, Global Culinary Leadership endeavors to leverage the strengths of existing talent for the benefit of both the individual and the company. “I have had a lot of people help me along the way [of my career] and I believe in helping and mentoring others,” he says.
“A good leader is constantly building a team and making the team bigger and stronger,” he continues. “Our people are the greatest asset we have in this company, and we have got to be continually developing them and growing them, because every opportunity you could possibly seek [in the industry] is right here [within Compass Group].” Participants, Brown adds, will become more successful, which will make the company better.
Congratulations, Lindsey, and good luck!