Travel caterer SSP names Mark Angela as new CEO

13th January 2012, 11:00am

SSP Group, which operates food and beverage brands in travel locations, has announced that former PizzaExpress head Mark Angela will be its new chief executive in the UK and Ireland.

He will join on February 20 to oversee a business that generated sales in excess of £650 million in 2011.

Angela, who has spent the last four years as CEO of PizzaExpress Restaurants, replaces Tony Keating at SSP.

Before PizzaExpress, he was managing director of Greene King Pub Company and a main board member of Greene King plc for three years.

He also previously held general management and marketing roles in the FMCG and pharmaceutical sectors, including 11 years at Colgate-Palmolive and five years at ICI (now Astra-Zeneca).

Andrew Lynch, CEO of SSP Group, said: "I am delighted to welcome Mark to SSP. His strong track record of delivering profitable growth in consumer focused brands like PizzaExpress and Greene King speaks for itself.

"His leadership skills and experience are perfectly suited to continuing the growth of our UK and Ireland division.

"I would also like to thank the departing UK and Ireland CEO, Tony Keating, for his outstanding contribution to the company over almost 30 years of service, and to wish him all the best for the future as he pursues other interests outside of SSP."

Angela said: "Given the positive long-term trends in the travel sector and SSP's unrivalled position within it, this is an exciting time to be joining a business with such unique expertise and outstanding portfolio of brands.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of helping SSP fulfil its impressive ambitions in the UK and Ireland and to cementing its market-leading positions in both the air and rail sectors."

SSP's UK and Ireland division has 650 trading units and employs around 10,000 staff.

Related Articles:

• 01 May 2012 - Food travel experts SSP UK launch pub at London’s Liverpool Street Station
• 12 Mar 2012 - Food travel operator SSP launches Mexican food to go concept

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