Appointment of CEO – Aiden Keegan

Cooks Coffee Company Limited

28 March 2024

 

28 March 2024

Cooks Coffee Company Limited

("Cooks Coffee", the "Company" or the "Group")

Appointment of CEO - Aiden Keegan

Cooks Coffee Company (NZX:CCC; AQUIS:COOK), the international coffee focused café chain which includes the brand Esquires Coffee, is pleased to announce that Aiden Keegan has been appointed as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 April 2024.

Aiden commenced his role as Operations Manager at Esquires in Ireland ("ECHI") in January 2004. Before joining ECHI, he served as an employee at Insomnia, the prominent Irish Café chain. Preceding his tenure at Insomnia, he was actively involved in contract catering in London. Since October 2018, Aiden has held the position of Managing Director of the Esquires UK business. During his leadership, the business has witnessed substantial growth, increasing from 38 to 60 stores. Store sales under his guidance have experienced an increase of 12.6% compound annual growth rate. Aiden Keegan has successfully steered the company through the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating a well-developed and profound understanding of the business and its key drivers.

On his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Cooks Coffee, Aiden Keegan, said: "I am honoured to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of Cooks Coffee Company. My focus remains steadfast on navigating the Company through strategic shifts, particularly as we build our UK-centric approach. We will continue to prioritise growth of the franchise store network, ensuring our shareholders' confidence in our trajectory. Together with the Board, I am committed to upholding our ongoing strategy and propelling the Company forward."

Keith Jackson, Executive Chairman of Cooks Coffee, said: "As Cooks Coffee Company strategically shifts towards a more UK-centric focus, Aiden brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our Company, particularly in the core markets of UK and Ireland, and a proven track record in driving growth and he has strong relationships with our key franchisee business partners.  His appointment is of paramount importance, as we continue to expand our operations in this region and internationally."

Additional information on Aiden John Keegan

Mr Keegan holds 114,116 shares in Cooks Coffee (0.2% of the Company's issued share capital).

Mr Keegan currently holds the following directorships:

Esquires Coffee UK Ltd

Bishops Café Ltd

Esquires Real Estate Ltd

Esquires Franchising Ltd

Triple Two Coffee Franchise Ltd

Triple Two Coffee Holdings Ltd

Triple Two Coffee Property Ltd

TTC Contractors Ltd

Additionally, he has held the following directorships in the past five years:

Triple Two Coffee London Ltd

Mr Keegan is currently a director of Triple Two Coffee Holdings Limited, and its subsidiaries, Triple Two Coffee Franchise Limited, Triple Two Coffee Property Limited and TTC Contractors Ltd, which as announced by the Company on 24 October 2023, were all placed in Creditors Voluntary Liquidation ("CVL") on 23 October 2023.  The CVL process is ongoing.

Save as described above there are no other matters that are required to be disclosed under Rule 4.9 of the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook in relation to Mr Keegan.

Enquiries:

Cooks Coffee Company Limited	[phone] (New Zealand)
Keith Jackson (Executive Chairman) Aiden Keegan (Chief Executive)	[e-mail]
	[phone] (UK) [e-mail] [phone] (UK)
	[e-mail]
IFC Advisory Limited (Financial PR & IR)	[phone]
Tim Metcalfe, Graham Herring, Florence Chandler	[e-mail]
Oberon Capital (AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker)	[phone]
Nick Lovering, Adam Pollock, Mike Seabrook

 

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