Whitbread, the Premier Inn and Costa coffee operator, surprised the City today by appointing Andy Harrison from easyJet as its next chief executive.

Mr Harrison, who announced in December that he would be stepping down from the budget airline by the end of June, will succeed Alan Parker, chief executive at Whitbread since June 2004.

The succession will surprise the market which had been heavily tipping Carl Leaver, former international director of Marks & Spencer and a one-time Whitbread executive.

Chris Rogers, the Whitbread finance director, had been cited as the leading internal candidate, while Patrick Dempsey, managing director of its hotels and restaurants division, had also been tipped as an outside chance.

Mr Parker’s retirement, predicted by The Times in January, comes the day before the leisure company issues a full-year trading update that is expected to demonstrate the resilience of the group’s businesses, with trading in the fourth quarter showing signs of recovery.

The sailing enthusiast, who recently bought a new boat to occupy him in his retirement, will step down from the company on his 64th birthday at the end of November.

Mr Harrison, who had also been approached about the chief executive’s position at Ladbrokes, the bookmaker, will join the company at the beginning of September as chief executive designate.

The 52-year-old has been chief executive at easyJet since 2005, having previously spent nine years as chief executive of the RAC motoring group.

He is said to have quit the airline over a protracted row with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder and 38 per cent shareholder. In 2008, Sir Stelios refused to sign off easyJet’s accounts in a spat with executives that lasted months.

Anthony Habgood, the Whitbread chairman, said: “We conducted a thorough international search and selection process and had a number of high quality candidates. Andy has 14 years proven experience as a successful leader of two significant consumer facing public companies.”

He added: “Whitbread has substantial opportunities for further growth, both in the UK and through developing our international presence. We believe that Andy’s skills and experience are ideally suited to lead Whitbread in taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Mr Habgood also paid tribute to Mr Parker for his “invaluable contribution to the growth and development of Whitbread” during his six years as chief executive.

“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.”

Mr Harrison said: “I am delighted to be joining Whitbread. It is the ideal next step for me. Whitbread has a great history and strong culture with an exciting future ahead.

“Alan and his colleagues have done an outstanding job and I look forward to working with the team to build on their achievements.”

Source : The Times

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One of Leicestershires major employers is to shut its operation with the loss of almost 1,200 jobs.

Managers at AstraZeneca’s research facility on the outskirts of Loughborough met staff to discuss their future on Tuesday.

The firm announced 8,000 worldwide redundancies in January, following more than 12,000 posts going as part of earlier efficiency plans.

Over the past 10 years more than £100m has been spent developing the site.

In a statement, the company said it had “shared with its employees further details of proposals designed to improve the productivity of its global research and development organisation.”

The Loughborough site is expected to close by the end of 2011.

A smaller facility in Cambridge is also to close, the company said.

Pharmaceutical development work will cease at its Avlon base near Bristol with some work being transferred to Cheshire.

The firm announced 8,000 worldwide redundancies in January, following more than 12,000 posts going as part of earlier efficiency plans.

January’s announcement said restructuring would include 3,500 research and development posts being cut worldwide.

‘Desperately sad news’

Linda McCulloch, Unite the union’s national officer for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, said: “This is a devastating blow to the workforce at Loughborough.

“The closure of this site will damage the UK’s pharmaceutical research and development capabilities.

“Unions will be in formal discussions with the company and will do everything possible to minimise the impact of this announcement.”

Leader of Leicestershire County Council David Parsons said: “I want to speak to AstraZeneca as soon as possible, to understand exactly what is being proposed and to see if there is any possibility of the plant remaining open.”

Councillor Mike Preston leader of Charnwood Borough Council said; “We are clearly very concerned about the loss of employment and the futures of all the staff affected, as well as the effects on the local economy.”

Nick Carter, chairman of Prospect Leicestershire, the regional economic development company, said: “This is desperately sad news for the workers of AstraZeneca and a grim day for Loughborough.

“We will be working with Charnwood Borough Council, other organisations and local Mps to see what can be done to minimise the impact on the local economy and to find new ways of bringing employment to the area.”

An employee leaving the site, who did not want to be named, said staff were, “Absolutely stunned at the sheer stupidity of the decision”.

Source : BBC News

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