Catering giant outlines leadership changes and newly created role
Sodexo’s UK and Ireland chief executive Sean Haley will be leaving the business at the end of the year, the catering giant has announced.
Jean Renton, chief finance officer since 2019, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer, effective from 1 January. In the new role, she will become the executive lead of the region with an operational focus on business transformation.
Joining Sodexo in 2013, Renton has held a number of senior business and commercial roles in the region as well as previously leading finance operations and change teams at John Lewis, M&S and PWC.
She is well-known for her commitment to gender diversity, and will continue to chair Sodexo UK and Ireland’s SoTogether gender equality employee network, and be a non-executive director of the audit committee at the charity, Wellbeing of Women.
Over the coming year, Sodexo said she will have a renewed focus on delivering transformation, service excellence and social impact across the region’s 2,000 client sites.
Haley joined Sodexo in 2011 as part of the acquisition of Atkins’ asset management business. In 2017 he became regional chair, and then CEO UK and Ireland in 2022. He is a member of The Purpose Coalition advisory board, a director at Springboard and a trustee of Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation.
After seven years leading the region, he has decided to move to his next career opportunity outside of Sodexo.
Sunil Nayak, zone president Sodexo Europe, said: “We sincerely thank Sean for his significant contribution to Sodexo over the last 13 years. As chair and CEO of the UK&I region he has navigated the business through turbulent times in the market and simultaneously championed social impact, with Sodexo widely recognised as leaders in sustainability and inclusion.
“I am delighted that Jean has accepted this role to lead the region in the next phases of our strategy and transformation. Her commercial business expertise, coupled with strong executive leadership, made her the obvious choice for this position.”
Renton added: “I am honoured to have been appointed into this role. I look forward to working alongside my executive team and all our site colleagues as we continue to serve our clients and consumers as the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences.”
