Compass welcomes new executive committee members

Compass Group has confirmed the internal appointments of Shelley Roberts and Kathinka Friis-Møller to its group executive committee.

Roberts has been appointed group chief commercial officer, and is responsible for leading the group’s Global Clients, Strategy, M&A, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Digital and Procurement functions.

She first joined Compass in 2017 as managing director for Australia, and reportedly brings “extensive” strategic, commercial, and operational experience to the role, having delivered record growth throughout the pandemic while building a diverse and inclusive culture as leader of Compass’ Australian business. 

Prior to Compass, Roberts held leadership roles in a number of high-profile consumer and client facing businesses in the travel sector including easyJet, Tiger Airways and Sydney Airport. She previously worked in investment banking at Macquarie Bank in Sydney and qualified as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG in London.

Meanwhile, Kathinka Friis-Møller has been appointed regional managing director of the Europe and the Middle East (EME) region, the group’s second largest region, which includes 24 countries.

Friis-Møller was previously managing director of Compass’ Nordics business, leading the business since 2017, where she was responsible for Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Estonia. Here, she helped to onboard and successfully integrate Compass’ €475m (£402m) acquisition of Fazer Food Services in 2020. She first joined Compass in 2012 as operations director for Norway.

Dominic Blakemore, group CEO of Compass Group, said: “Both Shelley and Kathinka bring extensive commercial and operational experience to the group executive committee and we welcome them to the table. I have every confidence that they will play an integral part in further accelerating our growth plans across the group whilst developing the caring, winning culture that is such a key ingredient for our continued success.”

Roberts added: “With Compass’ strategic focus on sustained growth for the future, alongside our industry leading Net Zero commitment last year, I’m excited to work with our country and regional teams to differentiate and scale our market leading client services, drive collaboration to facilitate innovation and accelerate growth across the group.”

Friis-Møller concluded: “In Europe and the Middle East, we have a strong business with a world class culinary offer, and a focused desire to lead the industry on both digital innovation and the sustainability agenda. I am excited for the future and see many opportunities to develop our region further, delivering the very best for our clients, consumers, our people and the planet.”