ASK Italian is a family of 63 Italian restaurants across the UK, with every ASK serving its own unique community. We take our inspiration from the Italian way of life and put our heart and soul into the details, so when people come to our restaurants, they can relax, unwind and be themselves. Behind the scenes we’re working together to build a better business, strengthen our communities and care for the planet for generations to come.

As we continue to evolve, with menu innovation and customer experience at the heart of our strategy, we’re looking for an exceptional Marketing Director to lead our brand and food strategy. This role will drive a customer first approach that strengthens the ASK Italian brand and delivers experiences that are as memorable as they are meaningful, shaped by our values and full of Italian spirit.

With 63 restaurants in the UK, we employ nearly 1,500 people and serve 3 million customers a year.

ASK Italian is part of the Azzurri Group alongside Zizzi, Coco do Mama, Boojam and Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Purpose of the Role

As Marketing Director , you’ll be the guardian of the ASK Italian brand, protecting what makes it special while ensuring it stays relevant and resonant with our target customers.

Your key mission? To drive buzz, build relevance, and get people through our doors. You’ll bring our food and brand to life through stand out campaigns, smart partnerships, and great storytelling, executed in the right way, on the right channel, with the right people.

Working closely with the Azzurri CEO and ASK Italian leadership team, you’ll shape and deliver marketing activity that connects emotionally, drives action, and creates momentum across both dine in and delivery.

Key Accountabilities

Buzz & Brand Awareness

• Be the brand guardian, ensuring ASK Italian remains distinct and emotionally engaging, without overhauling what already works.
• Create buzz driving campaigns, partnerships, and stunts that get people talking and visiting.
• Use smart, insight led marketing to increase awareness and drive covers.
• Work with PR, influencers, and social to deliver the right message, in the right place, at the right time.

Food & Menu

• Work with the Food Development team to bring dishes to life in campaigns that are both inspiring and commercially smart.
• Lead food storytelling across all touchpoints, supporting launches and driving seasonal excitement.
• Keep food at the centre of the brand and a key reason people choose ASK Italian.

Commercial Growth & Insight

• Own promotional, CRM, and loyalty strategies to build frequency and value.
• Use customer insight and commercial data to adapt, improve, and drive results.
• Grow reach across delivery partners while maintaining brand consistency and quality.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and inspire a high performing Marketing team promoting a culture of creativity, curiosity, and delivery.
• Partner with Operations, People, Finance, and Digital teams to embed a truly customer first culture.
• Be a key member of the ASK Italian leadership team and contribute to wider Azzurri Group priorities.

What We're Looking For

• You instinctively “get” ASK Italian, with bold, emotive thinking that sets us apart.
• You see the world through a customer lens, always curious about what people want and how that's changing.
• You've helped build standout consumer brands, ideally guiding a challenger to real momentum.
• You're confident in fast paced, brand led environments - focused, calm, and clear headed.
• A true collaborator, bringing people together around purpose and always championing the customer.
• You get things done, entrepreneurial, hands on, and delivery focused.
• Sharp and commercially savvy, with a love of data and insight.
• Creatively brave, with fresh thinking and the confidence to challenge the norm.
• Digitally switched-on, excited by new ways to engage our customers.
• Organised and reliable, you plan well and follow through.
• Warm, empathetic, and impactful in how you communicate.
• Committed to helping others grow and succeed.

This role would suit a high potential marketing leader ready for their first director position, someone ambitious, curious, and confident in bringing bold ideas to life in a fast moving, collaborative environment.

The Right Fit

To succeed at ASK Italian, you'll bring a strong track record across the following key competencies:

• Shaping business direction
• Mobilising the organisation
• Commerciality
• Making complex decisions
• Challenging others and championing change
• Utilising broad networks
• Building and leading high performing teams
• Reputation and credibility