Directorate Change

RNS Number : 5999Y

Whitbread PLC

07 September 2009

 



7th September 2009

WHITBREAD APPOINTS NEW NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Whitbread PLC has today announced the appointment of Richard Baker as a Non Executive Director with immediate effect as Charles Gurassa steps down (in line with normal practice) after nine years on the Board.  

Richard Baker (47) was Chief Executive of Alliance Boots from 2003 until 2007 having led the merger of the Boots Group and Alliance Unichem in 2005. Before that time Richard held a number of roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Asda. He is currently Chairman of Virgin Active and Groupe Aeroplan Europe as well as being an Operating Partner of Advent International.

Anthony Habgood, Chairman, Whitbread PLC said: 'We are delighted to welcome Richard to our Board.  His wealth of experience in consumer facing industries, as well as at senior Board level, will be a great asset to Whitbread.

I would also like to thank Charles Gurassa for his significant input to the Board over many years. He was a major contributor at an extraordinarily important time for Whitbread as it evolved into a focussed hotel and restaurant company.'

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Press Contacts

Tabitha Aldrich-Smith, Whitbread PLC          [phone]

Andrew Grant, Tulchan                              [phone]

David Allchurch, Tulchan                            [phone]

For photographs and video please visit our media library on www.whitbreadimages.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Whitbread PLC is the UK's largest hotel and restaurant group operating market-leading businesses in the budget hotels and restaurant sectors.  Its well-loved brands are Premier Inn, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table, Taybarns and Costa Coffee. 

Whitbread PLC employs over 33,000 people and serves 9 million customers every month in its 1,800 outlets across the UK.

In the financial year ended 26th February 2009, Whitbread PLC reported a 9.7% increase in Group Revenue to £1334.6 million and 12% increase in Underlying Pre-tax Profit to £228.2 million. 

Whitbread PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is also a member of the FTSE4Good Index.

 

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