SSP Group names incoming CFO
Geert Verellen, who has extensive financial and operational experience in international consumer, food and retailing companies, he will assume the role of CFO
The operator of F&B sites in travel locations, SSP Group, has announced that Geert Verellen will join in early April 2025 as CFO designate, following deputy chief executive and CFO Jonathan Davies’ intention to retire.
Davies has been the group chief financial officer of SSP since its original formation within Compass Group in 2004, through its period of private ownership by EQT, its IPO on the London stock exchange market in 2014, and its subsequent transformation into the global food travel business it is today.
He was also appointed deputy CEO in 2021 and played a key role in successfully navigating the business through the challenges of the pandemic. During Davies’ tenure, SSP has expanded its footprint into many new regions, including North America, India, Australia, the Middle East, and a number of South-East Asian markets.
Verellen, who has extensive financial and operational experience in international consumer, food and retailing companies, was most recently CFO from 2020 to 2024 at Maple Leaf Foods Inc, a listed multi-national food manufacturing company in Canada.
He will assume the role of CFO and join the board from 9 June 2025.
To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, Davies has also agreed with the company that he will remain on the board until 30 September 2025 and will continue in his role as deputy CEO until the end of December 2025, which will enable SSP to “benefit from his deep experience of the business and his executive leadership”.
Mike Clasper, chair of SSP Group, said: “On behalf of the whole board, I would like to recognise Jonathan’s extraordinary achievements over his 20-year career at SSP. We wish him the very best for his retirement and for what will no doubt be a very successful non-executive career.
“Following a rigorous selection process, we are pleased to appoint Geert Verellen as incoming CFO. Geert will complement our strong group and finance leadership teams as we execute our strategy. With his extensive international experience and his impressive financial and operational skillset he will be a welcome addition to our board.”
