Compass Group taps Palmer Brown for CFO

Foodservice company Compass Group revealed on Monday that chief financial officer Karen Witts will step down from the role at the end of October.

The FTSE 100-listed firm stated Palmer Brown, currently Compass' group commercial director, had been appointed to replace Witts on 1 November 2021 and join the firm's corporate responsibility committee.

Brown, who previously served as interim CFO between 2018 and 2019, joined Compass in 2001 and has held a variety of senior finance, strategy and legal positions, including taking a central role as a member of Compass' "highly successful" executive team in North America.

Chairman Ian Meakins said: "We would like to thank Karen for her valuable contribution, particularly over the last 18 months which has been a time of exceptional challenge for Compass.

"The board is pleased to appoint Palmer as chief financial officer. Palmer, who has been with the group for more than 20 years, knows the business very well and is ideally suited to help lead the group as it recovers strongly from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic."

As of 0905 BST, Compass shares were down 0.77% at 1,546.50p.