Harry Ramsden's boss Marija Simovic in disguise as a waitress

Harry Ramsden's boss goes undercover on TV show in bid to turn around the company's fortune

28th July 2010, 10:42am

The new head of Harry Ramsden's, Marija Simovic, will be changing her name and donning an elaborate disguise before a live television audience tomorrow for a stint on C4's Undercover Boss show to investigate what's going on behind the scenes.

The 39 year-old chief executive officer, who is the only female boss to feature on the series, will undertake the investigation in an attempt to get the inside story on the fish and chip restaurant chain and "return the much-loved chain to its former glory".

As part of her on-screen role Simovic will be "recruited" as a trainee for the company under the pseudonym 'Millie Percy' in the channel four show Undercover Boss. As well as the fake name, Simovic will don "an elaborate disguise" in her bid to make a convincing bottom-level staffer.

Following the businesses 150th anniversary, the company was recently "brought back into British hands" and has revealed ambitious expansion plans in the UK and overseas.

Simovic is the only female chief executive officer featured in the hit series and the business' new owner has tasked her with restoring the chain to its former glory.

Simovic said: "Harry's is a British institution and I'm determined to put it back on the map. It was nerve-wracking going undercover but the whole experience has really opened my eyes to exactly what needs to be done.

"As a result, we're hard at work refreshing the menu and the stores, all centred around what our customers tell us keeps them coming back – the taste and quality of our fish and chips."

Related Articles:

• 30 Nov 2011 - Harry Ramsden’s says closure of first ever branch a "tough decision"
• 07 Apr 2010 - Harry Ramsden’s entrepreneur buys Five Star Fish
• 20 Jan 2010 - Fish and Chips chain Harry Ramsden's set for expansion under new owner
• 20 Jan 2010 - Fish and Chips chain Harry Ramsden's set for expansion under new owner
• 22 Jan 2009 - New owner for Fishworks
• 25 Sep 2008 - Harry's goes back to its roots

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kris james

16 May 2011 at 11:26pm

I am not surprized that they are losing money / customers. 4 of us went in their Bournmouth and ordered of 3 cod & chips & half of steamed fish without chips. The service was total rubbish. and the same of the food and they charged me £36.00 this was with drinks but the most annoying part of this is when my asked for just a unbattered fish she was served a half of fish which had been cut down the middle without the chips,It was our first visit and our last visit. Bad management & poor staff service?

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