Philip Jansen, chief executive of Sodexho UK and Ireland, has been promoted to the new role of chief executive of Europe.

In his new job, which gives him responsibility for Continental Europe in addition to his current duties, Jansen will oversee operations with a combined turnover of more than €6b (£4.1b) and 125,000 employees.

Six regional chief executives will report in to Jansen, and in the UK the existing executive team will remain unchanged with no direct replacement being sought for Jansen's vacated UK and Ireland role.

Jansen was brought in from MyTravel in October 2004 to spearhead Sodexho's UK turnaround, which the company says is well on track.

The contract caterer said it had achieved organic growth of 9% in the first quarter of the year and expected growth of 6-7% for the full year.

Jansen said: "I'm delighted with the recent success of the UK business and its return to profitability. I now look forward to expanding my role."

Philip Jansen Career guide

Jansen, who is 40 this year, started his career in commercial roles at consumer products giant Procter & Gamble.

He became a senior executive at Dunlop Slazenger before joining Telewest, the UK's second-largest cable TV, broadband and telecoms group, as managing director of its consumer division.

In September 2002 he joined MyTravel as European chief executive and was promoted to group chief operating officer a month later. He became chief executive of Sodexho UK and Ireland on 1 October, 2004.

View Philip Jansen's interview on CatererTV >>

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By Chris Druce

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