SSP Group plc, an operator of restaurants, bars, cafes and other food and beverage outlets in travel locations, today announces that George Antoniou has been promoted to CEO, Eastern Europe and Middle East (EEME), with immediate effect.
George joined SSP in 2001 and took over the role of Managing Director for the EEME region in 2005.
He has overseen a number of growth projects during that period, from expansion across the Greek isles to new market entries in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, including most recently in Saudia Arabia and Bulgaria.
As part of his role as Managing Director for the region, he played an instrumental role in expanding our presence into Doha, Jeddah and into Saudia Arabia, building strong relationships with our clients, partners and colleagues.
Under George’s leadership, the region expanded from six to nine countries and from 10 to 29 locations.
In his new role, George, alongside his leadership team, will continue to deliver further growth in the region as well as driving returns from our recent investments in this strategic high-growth market.
George succeeds Mark Angela, who has decided to leave his full-time executive position in March 2026 after more than a decade of strong leadership across multiple regions, after which he will continue to support on a consultancy basis.
Commenting on the news, Patrick Coveney, CEO of SSP Group, said: “I’m delighted to be announcing George Antonious as the new CEO for our EEME region.
“EEME represents a key growth market for SSP, and George brings a wealth of industry knowledge, deep expertise, and strong local partnerships that position him perfectly to lead our business forward as we focus on driving returns from our recent investments.
“His appointment ensures a smooth transition following Mark’s departure, and I would like to thank Mark for his exceptional leadership and contributions over the past 13 years.
“Together with the talented teams across the EEME region, George will continue to build on the strong foundations already in place and drive future success for our operations in the region.”
