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WhitbreadAnnouncement

06/09/2014 16:32

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RNS Number : 2873M
Whitbread PLC
15 July 2014 
 
WHITBREAD APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN 
 
Whitbread PLC has today announced the appointment of Richard Baker as Chairman
with effect from 1st September 2014.   He succeeds Anthony Habgood who, after
nine successful years as Chairman, announced in January his decision to step
down from the Board. 
 
Richard Baker has been an independent non-executive director on the Whitbread
Board since September 2009.  He is currently Chairman of Virgin Active Group,
a role he has held since 2008 and Chairman of DFS Furniture Holdings where he
has been since 2010.  Richard was previously Chief Executive of (Alliance)
Boots Group Plc from 2003 to 2007 and prior to that was Chief Operating
Officer at Asda Group Plc. 
 
Sir Ian Cheshire, Whitbread's Senior Independent Director who led the
Nominations Committee process commented: 
 
"We have conducted a thorough search, with the help of executive search
consultants, to identify the most suitable person to become the next Chairman
of Whitbread.  We were lucky enough to have a very strong field of potential
candidates but at the end it was clear to us that Richard was the best choice
to take on the role of Chairman.   He has a very strong record in both
managing and chairing consumer businesses, a deep understanding of Whitbread's
operations through his role as a non-executive and a strong empathy with our
ethos, culture and commitment to serving our customers. We are delighted that
he has accepted the role." 
 
Commenting on his appointment, Richard Baker said: 
 
"Throughout my time on the Board, I have admired the strength of the company's
businesses and brands. I strongly endorse the common values shared throughout
the group and its consistent focus on putting the customer first.  It will be
an honour to become Chairman of this great company, and I look forward to it
continuing to deliver on its strategy for growth. " 
 
Anthony Habgood, Chairman, commented: 
 
"It has been a privilege to have been the Chairman of Whitbread over the past
nine years. It is a company with tremendous potential and I'm sure that
Richard is the right person to chair the Board for the next phase of its
development.  I wish Richard and everyone at Whitbread every success in the
future" 
 
ENDS 
 
For more information please contact: 
 
Investor Relations 
 
Nicholas Cadbury, Whitbread PLC             +44 (0) 20 7806 5491 
 
Joanne Russell, Whitbread PLC                 +44 (0) 1582 888633 
 
Press Contacts 
 
Anna Glover, Whitbread PLC                    +44 (0) 7768 917 651 
 
David Allchurch, Tulchan                         +44 (0) 20 7353 4200 
 
For photographs and video please visit our media library on
www.whitbreadimages.co.uk 
 
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 43,000 people in over 2,000* outlets across the UK, with
its well-loved brands making every day experiences special for over 22 million
UK customers 
 
every month. 
 
Whitbread has outlined growth milestones for 2016 and 2018.  The 2018
milestones are to increase the number of Premier Inn UK rooms to around 75,000
and to double the size of Costa with global system sales of £2bn. 
 
At Whitbread we are committed to be 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 27 February 2014, Whitbread PLC reported a 13.0% increase
in 
 
Group Revenue to £2,294 million and Underlying Profit before tax of 
 
£411.8 million up 16.5%. 
 
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 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange