Tom Naylor
Areas Of Specialty
Thomas Naylor brings more than 25 years of hands-on leadership experience in the hospitality and food service industry to his role as a Recruiting Partner with Goodwin Recruiting. Born in Montreal and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa, Thomas built his career by working at every level of the industry, gaining a deep, practical understanding of what it takes to lead successful teams and operate profitable businesses.
Thomas spent 15 years as Executive Chef and Residence Manager to the Ambassador of Canada in Washington, D.C., followed by senior leadership roles across Michelin-star fine dining, corporate and campus dining, high-volume catering, fast casual, and multi-unit restaurant operations. Throughout his career, he has been recognized as a critical thinker and trusted leader with a strong record of improving performance, building teams, and delivering exceptional client experiences.
More recently, Thomas transitioned into Program Sales and supply chain leadership, where he partnered closely with operators and executives on GPO compliance, pricing strategy, cost mitigation, and multi-unit growth. His experience overseeing national and GPO accounts, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and supporting both sales teams and operators gives him a unique perspective on the business challenges his clients and candidates face.
As a recruiter, Thomas leverages his operational and sales background to connect top talent with organizations where they can thrive. He specializes in hospitality and food service leadership roles, from executive chefs and kitchen managers to multi-unit operators and corporate leaders. His ability to assess both technical skill and cultural fit allows him to create long-term, successful placements.
Fluent in English and French, Thomas is known for his professionalism, integrity, and relationship-first approach. He is passionate about helping companies build strong teams and guiding candidates toward meaningful, sustainable career growth.
