Craveable Brands CEO steps down Craveable Brands group CEO and director Brett Houldin is stepping down after five years with the three-brand fast-food business. Houldin joined Craveable Brands as finance director and COO in 2014. Three years later he was promoted to group CEO, tasked with leading the transformation of the three iconic Aussie brands: Red Rooster, Oporto and Chicken Treat. In July 2019 the business gained a new owner, PAG Asia Capital.
al. Houldin successfully led the business to a fully franchised model, rolling out an extensive delivery and digital transformation and growing both the domestic and international store networks.
Houldin will step down as group CEO, effective Friday, November 29.
He will be replaced by experienced retail executive Karen Bozic, who will take on the role from Monday December 9.
Costa Coffee appoints M&S executive
UK chain Costa Coffee has announced the appointment of Jill McDonald as CEO, replacing Dominic Paul, effective immediately, BusinessWire reports.
McDonald has worked in senior roles across several industries, including retailing and airlines. Most recently, she was managing director of clothing and home for Marks and Spencer, a position she left in July amid controversy, mostly to do with her inexperience in the fashion industry, according to reports in the Guardian at the time.
Prior to that, she was CEO of Halfords Group, a UK retailer of bikes, car parts, leisure products and a chain of garages. She worked at Halfords from 2015 to 2017.
She held three roles with McDonald’s Corp from 2006 to 2015, ultimately serving as UK CEO and division president, North Europe. From 1990 to 2006, she worked for British Airways, eventually serving as global head of marketing.
McDonald started her career as a graduate trainee at Colgate-Palmolive in 1987.
She currently serves on the board of InterContinental Hotels Group. McDonald is a native of the UK and a graduate of the University of Brighton.
Paul, who led Costa though its sale to Coca-Cola and its separation from Whitbread, will remain with the company as a special adviser through February 2020 to support the transition.
