Compass Group announced Gary Green’s retirement as CEO of North America. Palmer Brown, Group chief financial officer (CFO), will succeed Green as president and CEO of Compass Group North America, effective December 1, 2023.
Dominic Blakemore, group chief executive, Compass Group PLC, said in the announcement: "During his time, Gary has assembled a very strong team of the best operators in the industry and created an amazing culture with a can-do attitude, which always places the client and consumer front and center. Together, the team has built a strong portfolio of brands that has helped the business go further and deeper in capturing the significant market opportunities. On a personal note, I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with Gary for the past 11 years. I am also grateful for all his guidance and support and wish him and his family every happiness for the future.”
Palmer Brown joined the U.S. business 22 years ago and has worked in North America in a variety of senior finance, strategy and legal roles. He has been responsible for many strategic acquisitions and disposals for Compass Group and served as Group chief commercial director before becoming Group CFO in 2021.
Brown will remain a director of the board and will hand over his responsibilities as CFO to Petros Parras, regional finance director for Europe Middle East (EME).
Parras joined the business in January 2020. Prior to Compass, Parras worked in FMCG businesses including Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser and Coty in Europe and North America in senior finance, operational and strategic roles. Parras has been regional finance director for EME for nearly four years where he has played a key role in the turnaround of the region, focusing on growth strategies, the operating model and core processes, as well as the use of data analytics to drive better commercial outcomes. Petros will join the board as Group CFO on December 1, 2023.
Compass also announced the appointment of Denham Mack as regional finance director for EME. Mack has over 15 years of Compass experience, most recently in Australia as director of finance and technology. He previously worked in the U.S. as CFO of Restaurant Associates and CFO of Eurest. His successor has not yet been announced.
