Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • January 2021 (Revised January 2021)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Thomas Keller Restaurant Group: Leadership Through a Pandemic

By: Lena G. Goldberg and Michael S. Kaufman
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:19
ShareBar

Abstract

Thomas Keller, the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings from the prestigious Michelin Guide, and Joe Essa, the immediate past Board Chair of the National Restaurant Association and the CEO of Keller’s restaurant group, were class guests in the HBS course “Challenges and Opportunities in the Restaurant Industry" on March 12, 2020. Then, that night, they began to confront a situation they could not have imagined, the declaration of a national emergency and the immediate closure of all of their restaurants. Pondering how they could best save their restaurants, their staff, their communities and the restaurant industry, they examine how to navigate uncharted waters locally within their restaurant communities and nationally in an upcoming meeting with the President of the United States.

Keywords

Restaurants; Restaurant Industry; COVID-19; Health Pandemics; Leadership; Business and Community Relations

Citation

Goldberg, Lena G., and Michael S. Kaufman. "Thomas Keller Restaurant Group: Leadership Through a Pandemic." Harvard Business School Case 321-112, January 2021. (Revised January 2021.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Michael S. Kaufman

General Management
→More Publications

Related Work

    • January 2021 (Revised January 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Thomas Keller Restaurant Group: Leadership Through a Pandemic

    By: Lena G. Goldberg and Michael S. Kaufman
Related Work
  • Thomas Keller Restaurant Group: Leadership Through a Pandemic By: Lena G. Goldberg and Michael S. Kaufman
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.