SSP Group Announces Chair’s Retirement, Initiates Succession Plan

SSP Group plc (LON: SSPG), a prominent operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations, announced that its Chair, Mike Clasper CBE, will retire following the company's 2026 AGM on January 23, 2026.

Clasper, who joined SSP in November 2019 and assumed the Chair role in February 2020, is stepping down a year earlier than initially planned.

The Board has commenced the search for a successor, led by Senior Independent Director Carolyn Bradley. Should a new Chair not be in place by the 2026 AGM, Bradley will serve as Interim Chair.

Clasper stated, “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of SSP. As a Board, we are finalising SSP's multi-year strategic and operational roadmap to build on its strong foundations and accelerate the delivery of shareholder value. In order to enable the appointment of a new Chair who can help realize the full scale of these ambitions in the years ahead, I believe that now is the right time to announce that I will step down from SSP, bringing forward my planned retirement by one year.”

Bradley expressed gratitude for Clasper's contributions, highlighting his leadership during the challenging Covid period and the recent focus on performance. The search will prioritize candidates with the experience to lead the Board and drive strategy execution.

Group CEO Patrick Coveney thanked Clasper for his service, noting his commitment and support in navigating the Covid travel shutdown and strengthening SSP's global footprint.

Patrick Coveney stated, “I'd like to personally thank Mike for his considerable service to SSP and for his commitment, insight and support. He has chaired the business through a time of considerable change, helping to recover the business from the Covid travel shutdown and strengthen our customer, client and partner footprint across the world. His wise counsel and leadership have been invaluable.”

SSP Group will release its Preliminary results on December 4, 2025, following the Q4 Trading Update issued on October 9, 2025.