Former Scotch Whisky Association chairman Paul Walsh is stepping down as chairman of catering giant Compass Group earlier than expected.
The 64-year-old has told the company, where he has been at the helm since 2014, he wants to focus on his other business interests. He will remain as chairman until his successor is appointed but will not seek re-election at the 2021 AGM.
Since leaving his post as chief executive of Diageo, Scotland’s biggest distiller, in 2013, Walsh has taken on a number of board positions with companies including Unilever, Fedex, and McDonald’s.
Walsh said: “It has been a privilege to serve for the last six years as chairman of Compass, which is a world-class business and a true British success story on the global stage. We have a strong and well-established chief executive in place and I will work to ensure a seamless transition to my successor as chairman."
Compass is the world's leading food service company and generated annual revenues of £25.2 billion in the year to 30 September 2019. It operates in around 45 countries and serves over 5.5 billion meals a year.
