UK 
United States
Wingstop has grown at a pace few hospitality operators can match. The UK arm of the popular fast food chain now employs more than 3,000 people and is opening around 30 new restaurants each year. And behind that expansion is an equally ambitious people strategy - one now led by recently promoted People Director, Faye Ryder-Humphries.
Since joining Wingstop in 2022 and taking over as HR chief in September 2025, Faye has helped build a people function designed not only to keep up with rapid growth, but to elevate it. Her team of 19 supports development opportunities across the organisation, from apprenticeships and leadership programmes to Wingstop University and the brand’s internal competitions and incentives.
In this in-depth interview with HR Grapevine, she speaks openly about stepping into the director role, the challenges of scaling culture, and why internal mobility sits at the heart of everything Wingstop UK aims to achieve...
Taking on the People Director role
Faye took on the People Director role with a clear vision of supporting the employees who make the Wingstop UK brand what it is. “Stepping into the role of People Director comes with an incredible sense of responsibility. My top priority is to do right by our ever-growing team, ensuring that culture, development, and wellbeing are embedded at every level.”
People will grow with or without a company, but by creating opportunities to help them grow, now that’s magic!
For her, the excitement comes from looking ahead rather than looking back. “What excites me most is the opportunity to translate the incredible progress we’ve made so far into even bigger possibilities for the future,” she says. “Looking back, seeing the journey of both our people and the business is inspiring, but imagining the next five years and the possibilities on talent, unlocking potential and creating opportunities is what excites me.”
That ambition builds on a strong foundation. The company has twice been recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, most recently in the “very big places to work” category. It was also highly commended with an Ethnic Minorities Spotlight Award - recognition that reflects the deliberate effort Wingstop puts into culture and progression.
A career shaped by operations, and a passion for hospitality
One of Faye’s great strengths is the blend of HR leadership and hands-on operational experience she brings to the table. “I’ve worked across multiple sectors, but culture and leadership have always been my focus,” she explains. “My journey in hospitality began at the age of 15, so hospitality HR has always felt more like where I should be!”
Her career has taken her across the US and Australia. In Florida, she progressed to operations manager at Universal Studios, supporting the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. “Those experiences gave me practical insight into running large scale, high-volume, fast-paced operations, which I now bring into my people-focused leadership at Wingstop UKI.”
After returning to the UK, she joined TGI Fridays, progressing from assistant manager to general manager before moving fully into HR. A master’s degree in HR management followed, helping her transition into people-focused leadership in a large retail organisation before joining Wingstop UKI.
