LEI:213800QGNIWTXFMENJ24
14 July 2021
DIRECTORATE CHANGE
SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, today announces that Simon Smith has advised the Board of his intention to step down from his role as Group Chief Executive Officer to pursue a new opportunity at a Private Equity backed business. He is expected to leave the Group at the end of 2021 and, in the intervening period, will continue with his existing responsibilities and support an orderly transition.
The Board will now commence a process to identify Simon's successor, and the search process will consider both internal and external candidates. Further updates will be provided as appropriate in due course.
As reported at the Group's Interim Results last month, the business has begun to see a recovery in passenger demand, led by domestic and leisure travel, most notably in North America. Current trading is in line with expectations, with third quarter sales at 27% of 2019 levels, and sales in the most recent week at 42% of 2019 levels, compared with 30% at the beginning of June. The outlook for the rest of the financial year remains unchanged.
Mike Clasper, Chairman of the Board, said, "Throughout the past 16 months, Simon and our Executive team have done an excellent job in steering SSP through the enormous challenges presented by the pandemic, acting very rapidly to protect the business and its cash flow, create a more flexible operating model and strengthen the balance sheet.
SSP has a very clear strategy and significant competitive strengths, placing it in an excellent position to take advantage of the many opportunities for growth that will be presented by the recovery in the travel sector."
ENDS
CONTACTS:
Investor and analyst enquiries
Sarah John, Corporate Affairs Director, SSP Group plc
On 14 July 2021: +44 (0) 7736 089218
Thereafter: +44 (0) 203 714 5251
E-mail: sarah.john@ssp-intl.com
Media enquiries
Peter Ogden / Nick Hayns
Powerscourt
+44 (0) 207 250 1446
E-mail: ssp@powerscourt-group.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About SSP
SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage concessions in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. Prior to the onset of Covid-19, we served around one and a half million customers every day at approximately 180 airports and 300 rail stations in 35 countries around the world and operated more than 550 international, national and local brands.
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