Magnus Nilsson, the chef of Faviken, an acclaimed restaurant in Sweden, that closed for good at the end of last year, has been named the first MAD Academy Director.
“We are thrilled to have a chef, leader and thinker of Magnus’ caliber on the team. Magnus was the chef and driving force behind Fäviken Magasinet, the internationally-renowned restaurant. As the Academy Director, Magnus will not only oversee the development of the Academy’s programming, but he’ll be able to share his experience and insight with the MAD community,” said MAD’s Executive Director Melina Shannon-DiPietro.
Chef and co-owner of restaurant Noma René Redzepi founded MAD as a two day symposium in 2011 with 300 chefs, restauranteurs, servers and writers gather in Copenhagen to discuss the future of food. Today, its programmes, publications and media span the globe and its educational videos have been seen by millions of people.
The Swedish chef who rose to fame for his culinary genius and artistic qualities including photography and writing said that when he decided to leave Faviken his plan was to stop working for a year or two. “It felt important to have time to think.”
Nilsson said that he wanted to figure out a stimulating way of life where he could actively work on learning new things. “I knew I wanted a situation where I could make change, big or small but in a way that was different than with the restaurant.”
He said that he had promised himself to decline every offer that came his way irrespective of how lucrative it could be. “I did exactly that.”
However, he said that despite this he had accepted to start the new job at The Mad Feed. “As an offer, it kind of snuck up on me, stealthily and slipped through a crack in my wall of firm no thank yous.
At first he said that he discussed taking an active advisory role or perhaps giving a lecture or two. “Throughout the previous year, as discussions of the new direction MAD was taking with the formation of an academy and the possibilities this will mean for the restaurant industry and beyond he eventually realised that this was in fact a dream project for himself.”
“I am incredibly excited to come on board at a time when there is already a great team, initiative and funding available. I believe that we will create something amazing together. In my role as director of MAD Academy, my main focus will be on curating and together with the rest of the team, creating truly great content for a school which has the potential to change the way our food system works.”
Nilsson will be developing an academy that equips the restaurant world with the skills, tools and perspectives to make positive change.
“The very first time I met Magnus,” MAD’s Executive Director Melina Shannon-DiPietro recalls, “I was struck by his experience and intellect; his enthusiasm for the Academy idea; and his commitment to solving the most challenging problems in the industry. Over the last few years, he has been an informal advisor to our work, and I’m excited that these conversations have led to him joining us full-time.”
Chef and co-owner of restaurant Noma René Redzepi founded MAD as a two day symposium in 2011 with 300 chefs, restauranteurs, servers and writers gather in Copenhagen to discuss the future of food. Today, its programmes, publications and media span the globe and its educational videos have been seen by millions of people.
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