EasyJet chief Harrison to take controls at Whitbread

EASYJET boss Andy Harrison is to take the top job at Whitbread later this year, the hotel group revealed yesterday.

Whitbread said the airline chief executive and former RAC boss was ideally suited to help the group take advantage of further growth opportunities in the UK and internationally.

The firm, which owns the Premier Inn budget hotel chain, Costa coffee and Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurants, said its current chief executive, Alan Parker, would retire in November after 18 years at the firm.

Whitbread chairman Anthony Habgood said the company was "delighted" with the appointment of Harrison.

"Alan has made an invaluable contribution to the growth and development of Whitbread during his six years as chief executive," he said.

"Under his leadership, Whitbread has grown to become the UK's leading hospitality company with a strong focus on value-for-money brands.

"Andy is joining a company in good health and with excellent prospects for future growth."

Harrison will join the company on 1 September as chief executive designate.

The 52-year-old joined EasyJet in 2005 after nine years as chief executive at the RAC motoring group.

He said the move was the "ideal next step" for him.

"Whitbread has a great history and strong culture with an exciting future ahead," he added. "Alan and his colleagues have done an outstanding job, and I look forward to working with the team to build on their achievements."

The company paid tribute to Parker, saying in a statement: "During his time as chief executive, Whitbread has been transformed from a leisure conglomerate of ten separate divisions to the focused hotel and restaurant firm that it is today."

Whitbread has more than 33,000 staff and serves nine million customers every month in more than 2,000 outlets throughout the UK.