Little Kitchen Academy Adds MICHELIN Experience Announcing Barry Gibson as New CFO
New CFO brings over 20 years of operationally focused financial leadership to Little Kitchen Academy as the company seeks to close their Series A Growth Financing Capital Raise of up to $10MM focused on opening more locations, adding revenue streams, and intensifying marketing efforts
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 – Little Kitchen Academy (LKA), the leading Montessori-inspired cooking school for children and teens, is pleased to announce that Barry Gibson is joining the Little Kitchen Academy team as Chief Financial Officer. This hire is a critical step as Little Kitchen Academy enters the next chapter in changing lives from scratch by providing access to practical life skills and food literacy to create a more educated, independent, and healthier society.
Gibson began his career in Scotland, developing his knowledge and passion for food whilst working in Edinburgh’s hospitality sector, including time at a Michelin Star restaurant. He has over 20 years of operational finance experience, across a variety of industries, with companies including RF Hotels, Heineken, Accenture and Aggreko as well as valuable private equity experience with firms such as American Industrial Partners and Eagle Merchant Partners. Most recently, Barry served as the CFO for Code Ninjas, the world’s largest and fastest growing kids’ coding franchise and he’s currently a Managing Partner at Wheelhouse.
“It’s a great honor to be joining the Little Kitchen Academy, a brand that brings me back to my roots and so closely aligns with my personal values. My goal as CFO is to help build the foundation and support the rapid expansion of LKA so that more kids can experience this life changing skill”notes Gibson.
Gibson has already stepped into his new role, providing enhanced financial oversight, elevating reporting, identifying revenue opportunities and preparing the Little Kitchen Academy team for the next chapter as the company focuses on raising up to $10 million through a Series A Growth Financing round.
“With his significant and broad financial leadership experience, including in the youth enrichment industry, Barry will be invaluable as we focus on the next chapter in the Little Kitchen Academy story. We are at a critical point as we seek to close our Series A Growth Financing. Our focus is on expanding to open more corporate and franchise locations, launching our eCommerce platform, adding revenue streams, and intensifying our marketing efforts. We are thrilled to have Barry joining us to help lead, drive value, and elevate the company as we continue changing lives from scratch!” said Brian Curin, CEO & Co-Founder of Little Kitchen Academy.
About Little Kitchen Academy
Little Kitchen Academy is the leading Montessori-inspired cooking academy for children and teens providing a safe and empowering environment to learn practical life skills, confidence, independence, and healthy eating habits to last a lifetime. The concept was created with the vision of becoming the global leader in teaching practical life skills and food literacy to children in order to promote a more educated, independent and healthier society. True to its mission, LKA is empowering children to make independent choices, enabling them to change their lives, and those around them. Part of that mission includes empowering students to learn how they can make the world a better place through How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, LKA’s signature philanthropic program, supporting Crisis Text Line, Changing Lives From Scratch Fund, Kids Help Phone, and One Tree Planted. In addition to charitable partnerships, LKA has forged strategic brand partnerships withBIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, ChopValue, Emeco, IKEA, Iron Chef Cat Cora, Küssi, Lettuce Grow, PRISE Inc., Russell Westbrook and The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, Scrub Daddy and Welcome Industries. Little Kitchen Academy’s venues are in Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles, Denver, Edmonton, and Toronto.
For a taste of Little Kitchen Academy, visit littlekitchenacademy.com or join its communities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.