Bakkavor

Bakkavor has recruited two new non-executive directors, Denis Hennequin and Simon Burke.

Hennequin has extensive leadership experience within the retail sector, spending the majority of his career with McDonald’s. He worked in a variety of senior financial and operational roles before becoming president and chief executive officer Europe, where he was responsible for changing the image and concept of McDonald’s Europe.

He became chairman and CEO of Accor in 2011, where he was responsible for an estate spread across more than 90 countries. After leaving Accor in 2013, he pursued an advisory and portfolio career. He is currently a non-executive director of Eurostar International, John Lewis Partnership and SSP Group.

Burke is the former CEO of Virgin Retail and Virgin Entertainment Group. In 1999, he was appointed chairman and chief executive of Hamleys, where he completed a successful restructuring and subsequent sale of the company.

In 2003, he left to specialise in value creation roles, sitting on the boards of several quoted companies, including pub group Mitchells & Butlers and Majestic Wine, as well as a number of privately owned and private equity-backed companies. He is currently a non-executive director of the Co-operative Group and the British Broadcasting Corporation. He is also chairman of The Light Cinemas (Holdings) and Blue Diamond.

“We are delighted to welcome Denis and Simon to Bakkavor. As we continue to deliver against our successful strategy and in particular pursue further growth in the UK and internationally, both Denis and Simon bring invaluable new skills to our board,” said Bakkavor Group chairman Lydur Gudmundsson.