Whitbread appoints two new Non-Executive Directors
Whitbread PLC has today announced the appointments of Deanna Oppenheimer and David Atkins as Non-Executive Directors, both with effect from 1 January 2017. They will succeed Wendy Becker and Stephen Williams, who will be stepping down from the Board having both completed nine years’ service, on 31 December 2016 and 21 June 2017 respectively.
An influential business leader, Deanna Oppenheimer, is Founder and Chief Executive of CameoWorks, a digitally-focused boutique advisory firm. Prior to that Deanna spent over twenty five years in a number of senior roles in banking at both Barclays Bank PLC and Washington Mutual Inc. and also serves as a non-executive director at Tesco PLC, Worldpay Group PLC and AXA SA. Deanna will take over from Stephen Williams as Chair of the Remuneration Committee on 1 March 2017. To allow for a period of transition Stephen Williams will step down from the Board at the AGM in June 2017.
Having spent his career in the property sector, David Atkins, has been Chief Executive of Hammerson plc, the FTSE100 retail property company, for the past seven years. During his time as Chief Executive David has been responsible for the Company’s transition to become a retail property specialist, the recent expansion into new European territories including Ireland and the increased focus on the premium outlet sector. David is former Chairman of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA), past president of Revo (formerly BCSC) and a member of the British Property Federation.
Richard Baker, Chairman of Whitbread PLC said “I am delighted to announce the appointments of Deanna Oppenheimer and David Atkins as Non-Executive Directors. Deanna is a highly experienced executive, with a strong background in mass consumer retail, and will bring her experience of having worked with a broad range of leading edge digital businesses in her role at CameoWorks to the Whitbread Board. In addition, Deanna’s experience of chairing the Tesco Remuneration Committee makes her well-placed to succeed Stephen Williams.
David is the CEO of a major UK business with interests across a number of European markets. Whitbread has a clear growth strategy, which is underpinned by an extensive property portfolio, and David’s experience in the European retail property sector will provide the Whitbread Board with invaluable insights as we expand both in the UK and overseas.
I would like to thank both Wendy Becker and Stephen Williams for their much valued contribution to the Whitbread Board during a very successful period for the Company. Wendy has played a significant role as a member of all three Board Committees, whilst Stephen has served both as Senior Independent Director and, more recently, as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.”
Notes
Deanna Oppenheimer and David Atkins have both advised that there are no details to disclose in accordance with paragraph 9.6.13(2) – (6) of the Listing Rules.
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Notes to Editors
Whitbread PLC is the owner of the UK’s favourite hotel chain, Premier Inn and the UK’s favourite coffee shop, Costa, as well as restaurant brands, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns.
Whitbread PLC employs 50,000 people in over 2,300* outlets across the UK, with its well-loved brands making every day experiences special for over 27 million UK customers every month.
Whitbread has outlined growth milestones for 2018 and 2020. The 2020 milestones are to increase the number of Premier Inn UK rooms to around 85,000 and to achieve global system sales of around £2.5bn for Costa.
At Whitbread we are committed to being a force for good in the communities in which we operate. Our CR programme, ‘Good Together’ is focused on three pillars of Team & Communities, Customer Wellbeing and Energy & Environment.
In the year ended 3 March 2016, Whitbread PLC reported a 12.0% increase in Group Revenue to £2,921.8 million and Underlying Profit before tax of £546.3 million up 11.9%.
Whitbread PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. It is also a member of the FTSE4Good Index.
*excludes Costa Franchise stores and Costa Express
