Des, as Sir Terence Conran’s business partner and CEO played a pivotal role in transforming Conran Holdings into a global group spanning restaurants, retail, hotels, and design, with annual revenues of around £150 million. In 2006, Des led a private equity-backed management buyout of Conran Restaurants and went on to found D&D London. Under his and David Loewi’s leadership, the company launched some of the UK’s most celebrated and iconic restaurants, including German Gymnasium, Quaglino’s, 14 Hills, and 20 Stories. The group’s footprint expanded both across the UK and internationally, with notable openings including Queensyard in New York and the South Place Hotel in London. After sixteen years at the helm of D&D London, Des announced the formation of D3 Collective in 2023. This new venture brings together individual restaurants in collaboration with a diverse array of investors, chefs, and restaurateurs. In 2024, he unveiled Engel Bar and Jang Restaurant at the Royal Exchange, and in spring 2026, he is set to launch a £10 million project at Pillar Hall in Kensington Olympia. The Pillar Hall venture will comprise a 300-cover restaurant, 70-cover speakeasy, and a 600-cover events space with live music. D3 has an additional pipeline of projects both in the UK and overseas.