Michael J. Bailey
Chairman and CEO

Michael J. Bailey started his career in the foodservice business as a trainee chef at the age of 16.  He joined Peter Merchant at the European headquarters of Ford Motor Company.  Peter Merchant later merged with John Gardner Ltd. to form Gardner Merchant.  After the merger, Mike continued to progress through the organizational structure as foodservice director, district manager, regional director and ultimately joined the board of directors in 1982.

In 1985, Mike moved to the US assuming the role of President of Gardner Merchant’s US based contract foodservice business.  By 1991, he and his team had achieved revenue growth of $210 million; taking the US business from $40 - $250 million

Mike joined Compass Group PLC in 1993 as Development Director.  He was a key member of the team that led the buyout of US based Canteen Corporation in 1994.  In June of that year, Mike was appointed President of Compass Group N.A. and elected to the group board of Compass Group PLC.  By 1999, under his leadership, the US business had grown from $1 billion annual sales to over $3 billion.  These results in addition to his extensive experience paved the way to his promotion to CEO of Compass Group PLC in July 1999.

Mike held the CEO position for 7-years taking early retirement in June 2006.  During his tenure, the group’s annual revenues generated by operations in more than 90 countries grew from $10 billion to $22 billion making Compass Group PLC the clear world market leader in the contract foodservice industry.

In April 2008, Mike co-founded TrustHouse Services Group.  He is a graduate of Southend Culinary School and Westminister University.  He currently resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife Michelle.  Mike has two daughters, Nina and Naomi, from a previous marriage.

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