MAXIME EJOFF, Director of food & beverages, octavo management group

Hospitality veteran maxime ejoff has over 20 years in working across france, england and
Asia, in multiple michelin-starred establishments. A passionate and reliable team leader, ejoff is highly regarded for his understanding of guest culture, fine dining customs, wine knowledge, and managing marketing and costs.

Starting as an apprentice in a local hotel outside paris, ejoff gained his professional degree and graduated to working in a two michelin-star restaurant in burgundy, restaurant la madelaine.

By 2009, he moved to london, england, and became chef de rang at the alain ducasse at the dorchester, where he was in charge of all chinaware and silverware at the three michelin-star outfit.

Ejoff began his asian career in shanghai with chef umberto bombana in 2012 as assistant manager of the two michelin-star italian restaurant, 8½ otto e mezzo bombana. The following year, he was relocated to hong kong to be restaurant manager of the flagship 8½ otto e mezzo bombana in alexandra house, central.

As a valuable member of the lai sun f&b group, ejoff was later appointed general manager of various stellar dining establishments including beefbar and operetta.

In 2018, he joined the hong kong jockey club, happy valley, as restaurant manager of its three food outlets, the stables, derby and the parade bar. He supervised over 100 staff members and raised the profile of its dining establishments with premium events and guest chef appearances.

In 2021, ejoff officially joined the octavo group as director of food and beverage as well as operation director, overseeing its seven restaurants’ operation and administration.

FEDERICO ASARA, GENERAL MANAGER

Asara is from florence, italy and brings forth many years of industry experience and expertise in managing staff and restaurant functions.

At a very early stage of his career, he worked for michelin star restaurant poggio rosso belonging to borgo san felice hotel awarded relais & chateaux. He then moved to london to work at scarfes bar in renowned 5 star luxury hotel rosewood. Once in italy, he ran his personal luxury restaurant company in florence owning 3 venues.

ALEX LAI WAI-HO, Restaurant Manager

Lai switched from finance to hospitality when he found his true passion for the hospitality industry in 2017.

From humble beginnings as a bartender, he has matured into a true professional providing exceptional service and floor operation skills. In addition to working for popular hong kong f & b outlets bar pacific, spiga and hong kong jockey club’s derby, lai placed in the top 12th in the hong kong cocktail school’s annual cocktail competition.

In 2021, he was appointed by octavo management group as assistant manager of chef nathan green’s rex wine & grill, providing excellent table services and performing all front of house routines.