“My youngest [child] had asked if I would become the CEO of Greggs when Roger left, and I said no. My kids all looked at me completely horrified. My daughter said to me: ‘Mum, you’ve always said that when a door opens, you’ve got to be brave and take the opportunity!’ When the role came up, their words were ringing in my ears." I love this quote from the recent article about Greggs and their CEO Roisin Currie. 😊 After 19 years with Asda in senior HR roles, Currie joined Greggs as Group People Director in 2010. Roger Whiteside, the then CEO handed her an expanded role in 2017, giving her responsibility for the chain’s outlets. She added property to her remit in 2021 and was appointed CEO in 2022. I love to see progression like this. It's a high-profile role and it would have been very attractive to external candidates. The chairman responsible for her appointment said “She’s a team player with little regard for ego and played a great role promoting those values at Greggs." Last year pre-tax profits came in at £188.3 million on sales of £1.8 billion. A long-standing bonus scheme means workers with more than six months’ service share 10 per cent of those profits. 😊 Curious if there are other HR professionals turned CEO's like Roisin. Share your thoughts! #successionplanning #HR #leadership The story of Greggs’ success and what’s coming next, by the boss. https://lnkd.in/eZH7Q75F
Fiona Irvine
4mo
Great to see an HR professional do so well in their career.
Louise Gibson
3mo
I still find it staggering that we don’t see more HR leaders move to the top job
I get the feeling that Roisin Currie was always going to the CEO at Greggs or which other business she happened to be in. HR was simply the route she chose, she would probably be a good Finance Director or Commercial Director. Greggs are just lucky to have her.
Alison Colley
3mo
Looking after your people is the key to a successful business, so more HR people should lead businesses, however unfortunately many business leaders/owners do not value HR
Experienced Retail Director | Head of Region | General Manager
4moI’ve just read this article and coincidentally I visited a Greggs last week on the way back from visiting my mum in North Wales. Greggs isn’t my normal go too being a vegan but as I had limited choices due to time pressures I pulled into one located next to a co op local ( great idea ). In I went as remembered they do a vegan sasauge roll. The young girl that served me blew me away. She mentioned the rolls were not very hot but if I had 15 mins to wait she would put one in for me to cook. I didn’t have the time but she also gave me additional information and said in future if I do click and collect 15 mins before I’m due there will be a hot vegan roll waiting for me. She also went on to tell they had just launched oat milk if I wanted it in my coffee. The down to earth friendly and natural approach blew me away. These items may be available elsewhere but not always so well delivered. Well done Greggs and Roisin as you have a convert and an advocate. Thanks for sharing the post Claire as otherwise I may have missed it.