Lysa Hardy, who stepped down as chief executive of Hotel Chocolat in August, has been named UK CEO of Caffè Nero.
In her new role, Hardy will report to Caffè Nero group chief executive Gerry Ford and work alongside managing director Glyn House.
She previously spent seven years at Hotel Chocolat, including a seven-month tenure as CEO.
With over 20 years of experience in UK high street brands, she joins the coffee specialist after holding positions at T-Mobile, Joules, and Holland & Barrett.
This news comes roughly seven months after Will Stratton-Morris left his role as chief executive of Caffè Nero UK, where he spent seven years at the helm. He currently serves as the coffee chain’s group chief business development officer.
Ford said: “I’m delighted to welcome Lysa to Caffè Nero. Her experience and track record makes her a great complement to Glyn and allows us to take the UK Caffè Nero business forward in the next phase. We have considerable brand momentum in the coffee space globally and in the UK, where we continue to gain market share and have delivered record first half results.”
Hardy added: “I’m delighted to be joining the Caffè Nero UK business; it’s an exciting brand which has consistently outperformed the market. This is the leading coffee brand in the premium space and Caffè Nero is well placed to have numerous opportunities and strong growth in the years ahead.”
According to its most recent results, the coffee chain achieved first-half sales of £185.4 million in the UK, representing a 7% year-on-year increase.
Caffè Nero runs more than 1,100 stores across 11 countries and holds ownership of 94% of its outlets.