Brakes is looking for a UK CEO to drive the UK business forward while new group CEO Philip Jansen oversees strategy and spearheads its aggressive expansion plans abroad.
A spokeswoman for Brakes confirmed the foodservice giant was looking to fill the newly created role "both internally and externally to ensure the continuation of the strong management team".
Headhunters were "casting their nets about, trying to find someone who can take this job on", one industry source added. "It is one of the biggest jobs in wholesale because the majority of Brakes' £2bn business is in the UK."
Brakes' private equity owners Bain Capital would be expecting the company to show aggressive growth in the UK as it sought to get a return on its investment, he said. "Brakes is already a giant player in UK foodservice, so they are looking for ways they can continue to grow. This role will challenge the new UK boss to change the way the business works in this country and to look for new ways it can make money.
"He will also be in charge of leading acquisitions in the UK and will doubtless have a big war chest at his disposal."
The role would also free up Jansen to expand the company in Europe, he added. Over the past two years Brakes has dramatically expanded its presence abroad, having bought Rault in France and Menigo in Sweden and it is still looking to expand further, said another industry source. "I think this is quite a statement of intent from Brakes, as it shows they mean business to be investing so heavily in their senior management," he added. "They clearly have big plans for the future and need the personnel to do it."
The search for a new UK CEO is Jansen's first big move since he started the job, having joined from Sodexo, where he was CEO of Europe.
Jansen was originally slated to start in February but his tenure was delayed until the start of July because of complications with his previous employer. He replaced Frank McKay, who retired at the end of 2009.
A spokeswoman for Brakes confirmed the foodservice giant was looking to fill the newly created role "both internally and externally to ensure the continuation of the strong management team".
Headhunters were "casting their nets about, trying to find someone who can take this job on", one industry source added. "It is one of the biggest jobs in wholesale because the majority of Brakes' £2bn business is in the UK."
Brakes' private equity owners Bain Capital would be expecting the company to show aggressive growth in the UK as it sought to get a return on its investment, he said. "Brakes is already a giant player in UK foodservice, so they are looking for ways they can continue to grow. This role will challenge the new UK boss to change the way the business works in this country and to look for new ways it can make money.
"He will also be in charge of leading acquisitions in the UK and will doubtless have a big war chest at his disposal."
The role would also free up Jansen to expand the company in Europe, he added. Over the past two years Brakes has dramatically expanded its presence abroad, having bought Rault in France and Menigo in Sweden and it is still looking to expand further, said another industry source. "I think this is quite a statement of intent from Brakes, as it shows they mean business to be investing so heavily in their senior management," he added. "They clearly have big plans for the future and need the personnel to do it."
The search for a new UK CEO is Jansen's first big move since he started the job, having joined from Sodexo, where he was CEO of Europe.
Jansen was originally slated to start in February but his tenure was delayed until the start of July because of complications with his previous employer. He replaced Frank McKay, who retired at the end of 2009.
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