Kamal Hakim

Kamal Hakim is a senior business leader working at the intersection of global markets, commercial strategy, and buyer relationships. He began his career with IHOP, and eventually became a franchisee of la Madeleine, a well known French inspired café and bakery concept in the United States, where he built a solid operational foundation inside a multi-unit brand and gained firsthand insight into how food driven concepts scale while protecting brand identity and guest experience. Kamal then moved to Italy, where he continues to work as an advisor/consultant in the foodservice space. An American who has lived and worked in Italy for the past six years, Kamal brings a rare, lived perspective shaped by daily immersion in European food culture, craftsmanship, and business practices. This dual vantage point allows him to bridge the U.S. and Italian markets with clarity, helping companies navigate U.S. market entry, expansion strategies, and talent acquisition while translating global ideas into practical, commercially sound execution. Much of Kamal’s work centers on international business development, helping companies identify growth opportunities across global markets and build strategies that translate innovation into sustainable expansion. With a background in project management and cross cultural business development, he is known for aligning creative ideas with commercial reality and long term business objectives.