Bakery chain Greggs today said Roger Whiteside, chief executive of pubs operator Punch Taverns, will take over as its new boss on 4 February.
Whiteside, who has been a non-executive director at Greggs since March 2008, replaces Scots-born Ken McMeikan, who surprised the City last month by announcing he was leaving to become chief executive of catering wholesaler Brakes. McMeikan, a Falklands war veteran, will leave Greggs on 8 March.
Greggs chairman Derek Netherton said Whiteside, who spent 20 years at Marks & Spencer and has also run online grocer Ocado and off-licence Thresher, has “considerable experience in retailing and food”.
He added: “He is very well respected within the company and his appointment will enable a smooth transition in what is still a challenging consumer environment.”
Greggs is the UK’s largest baker with more than 1,670 stores, and earlier this month it revealed a 2.9 per cent dip in sales for the five weeks to 5 January, despite selling a record 8.5 million mince pies. The group is due to publish its full-year results on 20 March.