Catering firm Compass Group has named the former chief executive officer of Ferguson, Ian Meakins, as its non-executive chairman to succeed Paul Walsh when he steps down in December.
Earlier this year, the London-listed firm said that Walsh would not seek re-election at its annual general meeting and that it was looking for candidates to take over from the businessman who has been Compass's chairman for nearly seven years.
Meakins faces a rough road ahead at Compass, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world's biggest catering group to raise £2 billion in capital in May to ride out the coronavirus crisis following a profit warning in March.
Looking To Working With The Compass Team
"I look forward to working with...the executive team to drive forward the group's strategy and ensuring that it continues to create significant value for all stakeholders," Meakins said in a statement.
Meakins is currently the chairman at energy services provider Rexel and has also served in various capacities at Travelex, Alliance Unichem and Centrica.
Compass, which employs about 600,000 people globally, serves daily meals to hundreds of thousands of school children, office workers, armed forces and prisoners.
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