SSP, the leading dedicated operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations, has announced changes to its Executive Board and the creation of a new management structure based around five operating divisions.
The changes, which will come into effect on 1st October, have been designed to ensure the company is even better placed to meet its key objectives of growing sales, improving operational efficiency and fostering growth in key strategic markets. It will also bring forward the next generation of management to the Executive Board.
The new structure will see the formation of three new operating divisions – Nordic (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia), DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), and WEMEA (Western Europe, Middle East and Asia). The UK & Ireland, headed by Mark Angela (the former CEO of Pizza Express, who joined the company in January this year), and America & Canada division headed by Les Cappetta, remain unchanged.
Kalle Ruuskanen has been promoted from his current role as managing director of SSP Finland to be CEO of the Nordic region, while Cornelius Everke, currently managing director of SSP Germany, is promoted to the role of CEO for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Both will join the Executive Board.
In the WEMEA Division, Nick Inkster, who is already a member of the Executive Board, will take on responsibility for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific in addition to his existing responsibilities for France, Belgium, Holland and Spain.
As a consequence of these changes, the Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific Division previously managed by Johann Weinzettl will cease to exist. Johann will remain with the company until October 2012 to ensure a smooth handover.
Andrew Lynch, CEO of SSP, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome both Cornelius Everke and Kalle Ruuskanen to the Executive Board. Both have excellent track-records of driving innovation and commercial success within their current territories, and bring a wealth of valuable experience and creativity to the Board. I would like to congratulate them on their promotions. I would also like to thank Johann for the great service he has given to SSP over the last 20 years. He has been one of our most inspirational and respected leaders and is personally responsible for a number of key business wins and opening up new markets for SSP.’
Press release Box-ID: 535459
SSP Deutschland GmbH
Helfmann-Park 1
65760
Eschborn,
Germany
http://www.ssp-ce.de
Contact
Ms
Clare Williams
Fannin
+44 (1483) 2435
SSP Deutschland GmbH
SSP is the leading dedicated provider of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has 30,000 employees, serving over a million customers every day. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,100 units in 30 countries around the world.
SSP operates an extensive portfolio of over 200 international, national, local and speciality brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King, M&S Simply Food, Millies Cookies, O'Learys, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Asian brands Ajisen Ramen and Saboten, as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Café in Geneva and the award winning Center Bar at Zurich.
Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.
