SSP chief Kate Swann has poached one of her former top employees to lead the travel concession groups UK business from this summer.

Simon Smith, managing director of WH Smith‘s travel division will join SSP to head up its UK and Ireland business.

The private equity backed group, which trades across 30 countries, operates outlets such as Marks and Spencer and Millie‘s Cookies in the UK.

Like-for-like sales at SSP were up 5 per cent to £1.83bn for the year ended 30 September 2013 as it reported strong performances in the Middle East, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.