Compass Group Confirms Death of CEO Richard Cousins -- Update

Compass Group PLC (CPG.LN) on Monday confirmed that Chief Executive Richard Cousins and four members of his close family died in a plane crash in Australia a day earlier.

In a news release, the contract food service, cleaning, property management and support services company's chairman, Paul Walsh, said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news. The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard's family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them."

In September, the U.K.-based company said Mr. Cousins, who was 58 years old, would step down as CEO on March 31. It said he would be succeeded by Dominic Blakemore, the company's CEO for Europe.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 01, 2018 00:59 ET (05:59 GMT)