Whitbread hires easyJet boss as CEO

Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn hotels and Costa Coffee, today appointed Andy Harrison, the departing boss of easyJet, as its new chief executive.

Ahead of a trading update tomorrow, Whitbread said Harrison, 52, will succeed outgoing chief executive Alan Parker, who is retiring in November.

Firms including the bookmaker Ladbrokes had been vying to hire Harrison, who quit his job at easyJet in December last year. Whitbread's chairman, Anthony Habgood today said he was "delighted" to have secured Harrison.

He said: "Andy has 14 years proven experience as a successful leader of two significant consumer facing public companies. Whitbread has substantial opportunities for further growth, both in the UK and through developing our international presence. We believe that Andy's skills and experience are ideally suited to lead Whitbread in taking advantage of these opportunities."

Harrison, who previously was chief executive of motoring group RAC, said the move was the "ideal next step."

Parker earned just under £700,000 salary last year and Harrison is expected to pocket a similar deal.

Last year at easyJet Harrison took home a £2.7 million pay-off, including a £1.22 million bonus that led to a shareholder revolt. He will step down from the budget airline in March and take up his new job at Whitbread in September.