Ken McMeikan, CEO of motorway services firm Moto Hospitality, has been named Chief Executive of the Year at the 2026 British Business Awards.
McMeikan, who joined Moto in 2018 and whose career has included stints as chief exec at both Brakes, and Greggs, was recognised for the “significant growth” his tenure has seen Moto enjoy, as well as the role he has played in spearheading the firm’s rollout of EV charging, and his “profound commitment to employee welfare”; this last aspect saw Moto, which operates 70 services nationwide, featured in the Sunday Times’ Best Place to Work in 2024 and 2025.
Guests at the 2026 British Business Awards included George Clooney and Sir Bob Geldof, while McMeiakn was handed his award by host Rob Brydon. The event raised over £1m for homelessness charity Social Bite.
McMeikan said he was “incredibly humbled and proud” to receive the award, but added the gong “is truly a recognition of the entire 6,000+ strong team at Moto”, whose “relentless dedication to serving 130 million customers a year, and their passion for creating a positive impact on society are the real driving force behind our success”.
McMeikan said he accepted the award on behalf of those employees, adding: “It is their commitment that allows us to invest in the future, from leading the roll out of ultra-rapid EV charging facilities, to supporting vital causes through the Moto Foundation and in particular, supporting our National Charity Partner, Mind, who do such amazing work in the mental health field.”
