Paul Walsh to become Compass chairman

Paul Walsh, the outgoing CEO of Diageo, is to join the world’s biggest contract caterer Compass Group as its new chairman, to help drive the business’ expansion overseas.

Paul Walsh will take over as chairman of contract caterers Compass on 6 February 2014

Walsh, who will leave his position on 1 July after 13 years with the company, will join Compass as a non-executive director in January 2014, becoming chairman on 6 February.

While Walsh will be leaving his role at the world’s largest spirits company to current COO Ivan Menezes, he will replace Roy Gardner at Compass who is retiring.

Compass currently operates in over 50 countries worldwide, serving meals at a diverse range of institutions from schools and hospitals to private businesses and events.

The caterer, which is focusing its expansion on North America and emerging markets, will benefit from Walsh’s experience building Diageo’s global expansion.

Walsh will fully retire from Diageo on 30 June 2014, after a transition period to hand on-going business and relationships to Menezes.