Whitbread’s finance director Christopher Rogers has been promoted to managing director of its Costa Coffee division.

Rogers replaces John Derkach, who leaves on 1 August to take up the role of CEO at Tragus Group, the restaurant operator of Café Rouge, Bella Italia, Strada and Belgo.

Rogers joined Whitbread as finance director in 2005. Prior to this, he had worked in retail for 17 years, spending 13 at Kingfisher where he held senior product marketing, commercial and financial roles.

In his new role, he will head up Costa’s global business, which has ambitious plans to increase to 3,500 stores, £1.3bn sales and 3,000 Costa Express machines by 2016. It currently has 2,200 stores and sales of £659m.

“This is a great opportunity to head up a fantastic business,” he said. Costa has a strong and experienced team leading its four divisions [UK Enterprises Europe, Middle East & India and Asia], all of which have exciting profitable growth potential.”

Whitbread CEO Andy Harrison added: “Chris has played a major part in Whitbread’s strategic development and, as a longstanding member of the Costa management board, understands the vital brand and cultural DNA that has driven its success.”

Harrison also praised Derkach. “John has done an outstanding job in leading Costa’s successful growth over the last six years, during which the business has more than quadrupled in size,” he said.

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