Whitbread, which owns hotels, pubs and Costa Coffee group, has appointed Nicholas Cadbury as the new finance director of the company.

Mr. Cadbury will replace Christopher Rogers, who will join work as managing director of Costa. Cadbury has been working as the chief financial officer of Premier Farnell since 2011. He also worked for three years at Dixons Retail in various managerial positions including the finance director.

Mr Cadbury said, “I look forward to the opportunity of using my retail consumer background and international experience to help drive its ambitious growth agenda.”

Whitbread chief executive Andy Harrison has expressed delight over the appointment, which was done after an elaborate international search for the chief executive officer. He has 18 years' experience of working in a multi-site consumer business across a broad range of roles at Dixons, he said.

Rogers appointment as the new managing director of Costa sparking speculation that the company might be planning to demerge the popular coffee chain from Whitbread. Andy Harrison, Whitbread’s chief executive had not ruled out a demerger of the companies.

Meanwhile, Mark Whiteling has been appointed by Premier Farnell as a replacement for Mr. Cadbury.