Whitbread appoints Patrick Dempsey as its executive director

Premier Inn owner Whitbread has appointed Patrick Dempsey, managing director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, to its board.  

Dempsey will join the board as executive director with effect from 1 January 2009.

He joined Whitbread in 2004 and took on the running of Whitbread's budget hotel business, Premier Inn, in 2005. 

Under Dempsey’s leadership budget hotel chain Premier Inn has grown by nearly 10,000 rooms, undertaken a major rebranding and developed closer ties with Whitbread’s restaurant business.  

Dempsey had previously spent 20 years at Forte and has worked in hotel and restaurant businesses throughout his working life.

Anthony Habgood, chairman at Whitbread, said: "I am delighted that Patrick is to join the Whitbread board where we will benefit from his strong operational experience.  Patrick has been extremely successful in growing Premier Inn and improving our restaurants performance."

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By Gemma Sharkey

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