New Chief Executive For Greggs
Greggs, the UK’s largest retail baker, has appointed Roger Whiteside as its next chief executive, to replace Ken McMeikan. Roger Whiteside will take up the role with effect from 4 February 2013 and, following a handover period, Ken McMeikan will step down from the board and leave the group on 8 March 2013.
Roger Whiteside has been a non executive director of Greggs since March 2008 and is currently chief executive of Punch Taverns, one of the UK’s largest leased pub companies with a portfolio of around 4,500 pubs nationwide.
Roger Whiteside has wide ranging experience in retail. He began his career at Marks & Spencer where he spent 20 years, ultimately becoming head of its food business. He was then one of the founding team of Ocado, and served as joint managing director from 2000 to 2004. From 2004 to 2007, he led a successful business turnaround as chief executive of the Thresher Group off-licence chain, before joining Punch Taverns.