Sam Bakhshandehpour

Sam Bakhshandehpour is Chief Executive Officer & Board Member of José Andrés Group (JAG), a restaurant and media company. Driven by the mission of “changing the world through the power of food," JAG's platform spans 40+ world-class restaurants across 9 markets globally, including the 2-Michelin starred minibar by José Andrés and numerous Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants. Bakhshandehpour also runs José Andrés Media (JAM), which produces food-related cultural content across scripted and unscripted media channels - film and television, books, podcasts, and digital content, including the Emmy-award winning series "José Andrés and Family In Spain" and The New York Times bestselling "Zaytinya" cookbook. JAG also houses numerous global partnerships as well as a consumer products platform offering best-in-class products from around Spain.

Through his hospitality investment platform, The Silverstone Companies, Bakhshandehpour has made numerous investments including The Electric Jane (private membership club and live music lounge / restaurant), Cultivate Hospitality (F&B programming), Bazaar by José Andrés, and select other hotel, restaurant and lifestyle properties.

Named one of the “Most Important People in Hospitality” on the Observer’s 2023 Dining and Nightlife Power List, Bakhshandehpour previously served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of sbe Entertainment, a private-equity backed hotel, restaurant and nightlife company with over 80 properties globally.

Bakhshandehpour started his career on Wall Street with J.P. Morgan Securities running the Global Casino and West Coast Real Estate & Lodging Investment Banking practice focused on mergers & acquisitions and capital raising.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He currently serves as an independent director on the board of Shift4, where he is a member of the Compensation and Audit Committees. Additionally, he sits on the Restaurant Advisory Boards of Fiserv Inc. and Bilt Technologies, Inc., as well as the Advisory Board of Wonder. Bakhshandehpour is a member of the Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA)’s 2025 Advisory Board and Food & Beverage Committee. He is also a co-founder and board member of the Palisades & Altadena Community Funds, a trustee of the Federal City Council (FC2), and a founding member of the Georgetown Wall Street Alliance West. He is an active member and former chair of the Young Presidents’ Organization’s Bel Air chapter.

Previously, Bakhshandehpour served on the boards of The New Home Company, including the Audit and Compensation Committees, and Georgetown University McDonough School of Business' Board of Advisors.