Whitbread appoints new boss
Coffee retailer Costa’s owner Whitbread appointed former Asda chief operating officer Richard Baker as its new chairman this month.
Baker, who has been an independent non-executive director at Whitbread since 2009, takes over from Anthony Habgood, who left the firm after nine years in January.
He started his business career in food manufacturing as a trainee graduate at Mars Confectionery, before joining Asda where he held the chief operating officer’s role for eight years.
Baker is currently chairman of Virgin Atlantic Group and DFS Furniture.
Whitbread is also the owner of Premier Inn as well as restaurant brands, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns.
Sir Ian Cheshire, Whitbread’s senior independent director, who led the nominations committee process, said he was delighted Baker had accepted the role.
“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,” he added.