Exclusive – Nando’s appoints Mark Standish as new chief executive of its UK & Ireland business: Nando’s, the peri-peri chicken chain, has appointed Mark Standish, formerly of MotoNovo Finance, as the new chief executive of its circa 480-strong UK & Ireland business, Propel has learned. Standish was previously chief executive of MotoNovo Finance, one of the UK's fastest growing independent finance companies, for 21 and a half years. Nando’s has been searching for a new UK & Ireland chief executive since last year when Colin Hill stepped down after four and half years in the role. Group chief executive Rob Papps had been overseeing the brand’s UK & Ireland business on an interim basis. A Nando's spokesperson told Propel: “We're delighted to welcome Mark Standish to the Nando's family, as our new UK & Ireland chief executive. Mark brings more than 20 years of chief executive experience and an excellent track record of growing businesses and developing people. He's passionate about making a difference and business being a force for good, and will lead Nando’s continued expansion in the UK and Ireland.” In December, Nando’s said it would continue to expand with new UK restaurants, despite the uncertain economic backdrop putting pressure on consumer spending. The company said it planned to open 14 new sites in the UK in its current financial year to the end of February 2024, with ten of these already opened at that time. It opened its first site of 2024, at the start of last month, in New Brighton, Merseyside, creating 35 jobs. At the end of last year, the business revealed it returned to profit for the first time since the pandemic in its latest set of full-year accounts to 26 February 2023. The company swung to a £17m operating profit for the year, compared with a £1.2m operating loss a year earlier. It said sales jumped by almost a fifth to £1.27bn for the year, up from £1.06bn a year earlier. The company said sales jumped beyond pre-pandemic levels as it was boosted by a strong recovery in UK consumer demand, as well as further restaurant openings. However, it still fell to a £86.2m pre-tax loss for the latest year after exceptional items. Nando’s said cost inflation has remained “at elevated levels” into the current financial year. The group said it has managed the impact of cost pressures but still expects these to “remain a significant drag” for the rest of 2023-24. Nando's features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the next edition of which will be released on Friday (8 March) and will feature 888 companies. Its turnover of £1.27bn is the tenth highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.