Whitbread appoints two new non-executive directors
Whitbread has appointed 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.
Oppenheimer is founder and chief executive of CameoWorks, a digitally-focused boutique advisory firm.
She has more than 25 years' experience in the banking sector having worked in a number of senior roles at both Barclays Bank and Washington Mutual.
Oppenheimer also serves as a non-executive director at Tesco, Worldpay Group and AXA.
In her new role as non-executive director for Whitbread she will take over from Williams as chair of the Remuneration Committee on 1 March 2017. Williams will step down from the board at the AGM in June 2017 to allow for a period of transition.
Meanwhile, Atkins has spent his career in the property sector and has been chief executive of retail property company Hammerson, for the past seven years.
He 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.
He 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: 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.
"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."
Whitbread owns budget hotel brand Premier Inn and coffee chain Costa, as well as restaurant brands, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns.
The firm recently announced it will be launching its newest brand Bar + Block in London's King's Cross following the brand's debut in Birmingham earlier this year.
Whitbread's flagship Hub by Premier Inn for sale for £80m >>
Whitbread to launch flagship London Bar + Block >>
Green light for Wimbledon Premier Inn >>
Latest video from The Caterer