Leslie Ferrier began her hospitality career with Hilton Hotels Corporation in their management development program. Recruited on campus from Johnson & Wales University, she worked in HR leadership roles for the Capitol Hilton, McLean Hilton, Fontainebleau, Rye Town & Pittsburgh Hilton Hotels. With Loews Corporation, she was on the opening teams for the Loews House of Blues, the Loews Miami Beach, and the Loews Porto Fino Bay Hotel in Universal Studios.She has served as Corporate Director of HR for Linens n Things, as well as VP of HR for both ABC Carpet & Home and Aerosoles shoes.Leslie was the founding HR leader for TxVia, a high-tech start-up, which sold to Google. At Atlantic Coast Media Group, Leslie was the VP of Talent Acquisition, Development +HR where she was nominated as one of New Jersey’s top women in business. That same year, ACMG won the fastest growing company in NJ. As the Head of HR for Le Pain Quotidien, she opened 15 new restaurants and was responsible for 3500 employees in 90 restaurants over 8 states for all HR and Development needs. During this time, Leslie served on the Board of Directors for Liberty Humane Society turning around a failing animal shelter into a model for urban rescue operations. Leslie was featured in her alma mater’s “Success Issue” which is dedicated to twelve distinguished graduates who have excelled in their chosen careers. Leslie was also nominated to the Hall of Fame for the World Association of Cooperative Education and has been listed on Food Services’ Distinguished Women of Hospitality for both 2019 & 2020.She has spoken on a variety of HR related topics at Cornell University, Harvard University, Rutgers University, the FAB Conference for Women & Cornell’s HR in Hospitality Conference to name a few.She was on both the Board and Executive Board of Directors for the Hospitality Alliance of NYC as well as Rutgers University’s Human Resources Advisory Board. She was selected to be a 2020 Mentor for Food & Wines Best Chefs.As the Vice President of Human Resources for Momofuku, she was responsible for all Human Resources aspects of Momofuku including Momofuku’s restaurants, Fuku, Milk Bar, Ando, Lucky Peach, Bong Bar, Peach Mart, and David Chang’s media arm which included shows on Hulu and Netflix as well as his recent book, Eat a Peach.She was the HR leader for the openings and reopenings of:South Street Seaport, Hudson Yards, Columbus Circle, Ko Bar, The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, The Sands, Las Vegas, Major Domo, Los Angeles, Kojin, Toronto and Momofuku Seiobo, Sydney, Australia.Leslie served as the Chairman of the Board for Momofuku’s Bluetape Fund to assist employees during the Covid Pandemic.Following Momofuku, Leslie served as the Chief People Officer for BUYK-a fast growing 15-minute grocery delivery app- as their first ever Human Resources leader.In this role she was responsible for the entire Talent Acquisition Team, Human Resources and Learning and Development.In this capacity, she grew BUYK in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Leslie resides in a self-restored 125-year-old Victorian home in Asbury Park, NJ with her husband, Jim, and a menagerie of rescue animals. They enjoy ballet, opera, symphony, restaurants and traveling the world.
