Deliveroo executive French to leave as board weighs CEO succession
Former Amazon executive Eric French, who has been Deliveroo’s chief operating
officer since 2021, is to leave the company later this year, Sky News learns.
City editor @MarkKleinmanSky [http://twitter.com/@MarkKleinmanSky]
Wednesday 12 February 2025 12:45, UK
One of Deliveroo’s top executives is to leave the company as its board weighs a
succession plans for its founder and CEO, Will Shu.
Sky News has learnt that Eric French, the food delivery service’s chief
operating officer since 2021, has told colleagues that he will step down later
this year.
His departure has yet to be announced internally.
Mr French joined Deliveroo in January 2021, having spent 15 years at Amazon in a
number of senior roles.
His most recent post at the US-based internet giant – which took a stake in
Deliveroo in 2019 – was as vice-president of its US consumables business, where
he was responsible for its household, beauty, baby and grocery categories.
Sources said his plan to leave Deliveroo was unconnected to ongoing discussions
in the company’s boardroom about succession planning for Mr Shu.
Sky News revealed on Tuesday that directors had begun actively debating the
prospective timing of Mr Shu’s exit, with one scenario under consideration that
he would leave towards the end of this year.
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Carlo Mocci, Deliveroo’s chief business officer, is regarded as the internal
favourite to replace Mr Shu when he stands down.
Deliveroo responded to the story by saying there were “no plans for Will to step
down”.
“Will remains relentlessly focused on the long term future of Deliveroo and
delivering for consumers, merchants and riders,” it said.
Insiders labelled the statement ‘a non-denial denial’ and confirmed that
headhunters were engaged in CEO succession planning at the company, which counts
Pizza Express and Waitrose among its delivery partners.
Mr Shu co-founded the company up in 2013 and has become one of the most
prominent business leaders in Britain, steering a business which now employs
thousands of people.
Despite the slump in its stock market valuation since it went public in 2021,
Deliveroo is one of Britain’s biggest consumer technology successes of recent
years.
It has also encountered severe reputational challenges, notably over its
treatment of so-called gig economy workers and their lack of employment rights.
In recent months there has been growing speculation that Deliveroo will attract
a takeover offer from an international suitor.
Berlin-based Delivery Hero sold its 4.5% stake in Deliveroo last year for
roughly £77m, although more recent market chatter has centred on Doordash, the
American takeaway delivery service.
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A golden share held by Mr Shu that was put in place at the time of its IPO
expired last year, removing the company’s automatic protection against any
unwanted bid.
On Wednesday, Deliveroo shares were trading at around 139.8p, giving the company
a market capitalisation of about £2.15bn.
The stock has risen by about 15% over the last year.
Deliveroo has been contacted for comment.
