Moto, the UK’s largest motorway service area operator, has appointed Noel Collett chief operating officer as the business plans its next phase of growth.
Reporting to chief executive officer Ken McMeikan, Collett will join the company on September 29, with over 30 years of retail and hospitality experience. He was most recently chief operating officer at SSP UK & Ireland, an operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations.
Earlier in his career he spent more than 16 and a half years at grocery discounter Lidl, where was chief operating officer from December 2002 to March 2015.
Moto’s Ken McMeikan says he is delighted to have Collett on board. “His extensive hospitality and retail experience as chief operating officer at SSP, and before that at Lidl, will be invaluable in accelerating our vision to ‘transform the UK’s rest stop experience’,” says McMeikan.
“This is a hugely exciting time for Moto and Noel’s appointment reflects our continued commitment for our customers, and colleagues, with further significant investment planned in EV charging, eHGV charging, new motorway service areas, and digital and AI solutions.”
Noel Collet adds: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Moto at such an exciting stage in its journey. This is a fantastic business with a proven and unwavering colleague and customer-first culture. I’m really looking forward to getting to know the team, contributing to the great work already underway, and helping to shape the next phase of Moto’s growth, delivering even greater success for all stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, Michelle Madeley, Moto’s operations director, leaves the business at the end of September. McMeikan says that during her tenure she has “made significant contributions” more than doubling Moto’s customer satisfaction levels and contributing to the operator being named in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work listing for the past two years.
