‘Personal' reasons sees Sodexo CFO Herbert-Jones' early exit

FRENCH catering giant Sodexo has announced that chief financial officer Siân Herbert-Jones has taken “a personal decision” and left the company  three months earlier than planned.

Back in March 2015, the world’s 19th-biggest employer said Herbert-Jones would hand over the reins to her successor, employee benefits finance chief, Marc Rolland in March 2016.

The FTSE 100 services group said the transition from Herbert-Jones to Rolland has been “completed successfully” and subsequently, Rolland has become group CFO effective from December 21, 2015. Herbert-Jones meanwhile “will continue to support the group until 29 February 2016”.

According to Sodexo, Herbert-Jones informed the board and chief executive Michel Landel several years ago that she would “pursue other projects as from 2016” and that Rolland’s appointment is based on a “longstanding succession plan”.

Rolland has worked for Sodexo for 18 years and has gained detailed insights into all group businesses, the company said. Prior to his current role as vice president benefits and rewards for the Asia region, he held finance positions in remote sites and in the UK, before becoming CFO for on-site services for continental Europe and South America. He was also CFO, benefits and rewards for seven years.

At the time of the original announcement in March, Michel Landel, group CEO, said Herbert-Jones had made an “outstanding contribution” to the group. “She has created a remarkable and rigorous financial organisation while maintaining an excellent financial model that has enabled us to create value for our clients, employees and shareholders,” he said.