Gelila Assefa Puck

Gelila Assefa Puck is a Partner and Global Creative Director for The Wolfgang Puck Group of
Companies, as well as an award-winning philanthropist recognized for her advocacy for children,
women with HIV, and increased opportunities around education.

As Partner and Creative Director of The Wolfgang Puck Group of Companies, Gelila oversees all
creative direction of the brand, which includes ‘front of house’ restaurant design, fine dining
experience, lifestyle brand, catering, product, and all creative related materials. Under her leadership,
she is responsible for pushing the brand forward by procuring renowned architects such as Frank
Gehry, Tony Chi, and Massimiliano Locatelli for the planning and design of the restaurants. In
addition, she has worked with sought-after interior designers Thierry Despont, Waldo Fernandez,
and Jacques Garcia for overall restaurant interior design and aesthetics.

Gelila also uses her creative sensibilities and passion for the arts to integrate the influence of
exemplary local, established, and emerging artists into the dining experience. Her belief that both
your physical and intellectual appetite should be nourished when dining in a Wolfgang Puck
restaurant has been exemplified through a museum-quality curation at CUT Beverly Hills and many
more of the brand's restaurants. Her most recent design work can be found at Spago Las Vegas at
the Bellagio Resort & Casino, where she collaborated with Milan-based architect, Massimiliano
Locatelli. She continues to elevate the guest-to-brand experience through never been done before
collaborations and cultural, curated events.

In 2010, she founded the Dream for Africa Foundation with a mission aimed to empower
passionate, hard-working individuals throughout Africa by providing access to skills and opportunity
needed to ensure long-term financial independence. Gelila broadens her work towards progress in
Africa as the Global Citizen Ambassador, where she uses her voice to champion issues like poverty
and education.

Gelila also serves on the board of trustees for Children’s Institution Inc., which serves more than
24,000 children and families living in Los Angeles. Of her many accomplishments with CII, Gelila is
most proud of the work she is doing alongside the world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry, on a
specially designed headquarters and community center for the organization in the city of Watts.

Gelila has been honored by Girls Inc., ESSENCE, Children’s Institute Inc., the Los Angeles Ballet,
and more for her philanthropic accomplishments.