Carol Welch

CEOAF Blakemore & Son and NED Hammerson plc

Carol has been CEO of AF Blakemore and Son, one of the UK’s largest, privately owned
businesses, retailing and distributing food and drink, since 2023. The business turns over c.£1.2bn, operating SPAR stores, Greggs, Philpotts, Costa and Subway concessions, and their distribution partnerships include Moto, Welcome Break, BP, Marston’s, independent schools and retailers. Carol sits on the AFB Board, SPAR Board and Audit committee.

Since 2019, Carol has also been a FTSE non-executive director at Hammerson plc. Hammerson owns city centre retail locations including Bullring, Cabot Place in Bristol, Reading Oracle, and Dublin’s Dundrum. She is a member of Remuneration and Nomination committees and is nominated director for colleague engagement.

Previously, Carol spent 6.5 years at ODEON Cinemas Group as Managing Director UK & Ireland, and Commercial Officer for Europe, transforming their business and overseeing revenue growth across nine markets, sitting on the boards of Digital Cinema Media and the UK Cinema Association.

Before joining ODEON, Carol was Global CMO at Costa Coffee, having previously built depth and breadth of experience in branded consumer goods holding senior Commercial and Marketing positions at Associated British Foods, Cadbury-Schweppes, and PepsiCo.

Her family home is in Bedfordshire, she’s foodie and runs to keep fit.