Whitbread Regulatory News (WTB)

Whitbread announces appointment of Christopher Rogers as

Managing Director for Costa Coffee

Whitbread announces today that Christopher Rogers, currently Group Finance Director, will be appointed as the Managing Director of Costa Coffee following John Derkach's decision to join UK restaurant company, Tragus Group, as Chief Executive. 

Chris Rogers, who joined Whitbread in 2005 as Group Finance Director, will head up Costa's global business to drive forward its ambitious five year growth plan to increase the size of the business to 3,500 stores worldwide, £1.3 billion system sales and 3,000 Costa Express machines by 2016. Costa is already the UK's largest coffee shop brand with almost 1400 stores and a further 800 units in 25 overseas markets, including China and India. 

Andy Harrison, Whitbread's Chief Executive commented: "Chris has played a major part in Whitbread's strategic development and, as a long standing member of the Costa management board, understands the vital brand and cultural DNA which has driven its success. Costa has an exciting future within Whitbread and Chris will spearhead our ambitious growth plans, which will create substantial shareholder value."

"John has done an outstanding job in leading Costa's successful growth over the last six years, during which the business has more than quadrupled in size.  After 17 years with Whitbread he is looking forward to a new challenge as CEO in an industry he knows well.   I wish him every success in his new role."

Speaking about his appointment Chris Rogers said: "This is a great opportunity to head up a fantastic business. Costa has a strong and experienced team leading its four divisions, all of which have exciting profitable growth potential".

John Derkach will remain Managing Director of Costa until he leaves on 1^st August 2012. Whitbread has appointed a search firm to seek a new Group Finance Director.  In his new role as Managing Director, Costa, Chris Rogers will continue to be a member of the Whitbread Board.

For further information please contact:

Whitbread

Anna Glover, Director of Communications           07768 917 651

Joanne Russell, Director of Investor Relations       07785 451 266

Tulchan

David Allchurch                                                0207 353 4200

Notes to Editors

Christopher Rogers joined Whitbread in 2005 following a 17 year career in retail which included 13 years at Kingfisher in senior product marketing, commercial and finance roles.

Costa reported systems sales of £659m and PBIT of £50m for the full year 2010/11.  Since 2005/06 Costa has grown from some 500 stores to almost 2,200 stores, with profits increasing fourfold.  In April 2011 Whitbread announced plans to double the size of Costa with systems sales of £1.3 billion, 3,500 stores worldwide and 3,000 Costa Express machines by 2016.

At the beginning of 2012 Costa was reorganised into four business units - Costa UK (Retail and individual franchise), Costa Enterprises (Costa Express and corporate partnerships), Costa Europe Middle East and India and Costa Asia (including China).

Whitbread PLC is the UK's largest hotel and restaurant group operating market-leading businesses in budget hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.  Its well-loved brands are Premier Inn, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table, Taybarns and Costa.

Whitbread PLC employs over 40,000 people globally. In the UK we serve over 11 million customers every month in around 2,000 outlets*.

Whitbread outlined in April 2011, growth milestones (to 2015/16) to increase the number of Premier Inn UK rooms by nearly 50% to at least 65,000 and to nearly double the size of Costa with global system sales of £1.3bn and 3,500 stores worldwide.

In the six months ended 1 September 2011, Whitbread PLC reported a 10.7% increase in Group revenue to £891.3 million and Underlying Profit before tax of £174.9 million up 15.2%.

Whitbread PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. It is also a member of the FTSE4Good Index.

*excludes Costa Franchise stores and Costa Express