Technical FM put through Mills

10 February 2012

Sodexo has launched a worldwide technical expertise platform to drive the development of technical Facilities Management throughout the Group. To manage this key initiative, Sodexo has appointed Ian Mills as Group Vice President, Worldwide Technical Expertise Platform.

Today facilities management services account for more than 25% of Sodexo’s revenues and are growing three times faster than foodservices. The newly created platform will:

Define, implement and deploy shared processes, tools and standards for the management of infrastructure and equipment in all countries
Implement the IT infrastructure and tools required to expand the Group’s technical expertise
Manage intelligence, research and development work that will enable Sodexo to fine-tune and further expand its expertise in technical fields

In recent years Sodexo has accelerated the development of regional and country multi-technical platforms in locations including Asia, Latin America, France, the US, the UK, Germany, China, India, Singapore and Brazil. The worldwide platform will centralise and take this expertise to a higher level, facilitating sharing best practices.

In addition, the recent acquisitions of Roth Bros. in the US and Atkins in the UK have reinforced Sodexo’s ability to provide technical facilities management and infrastructure services.

“Sodexo continues its expansion in multi-technical services, to enable us to better respond to our clients’ increasingly global needs in this field. The Group offers Infrastructure and Equipment services in 45 countries world-wide with over 13,000 employees and 160 technical subject matter experts delivering comprehensive solutions to our clients. The development of a robust central platform is a key step to promote technical expertise and best practices across the organisation. I am pleased that Ian Mills, who brings over 30 years’ industry experience to the Group, has joined Sodexo to head up this strategic initiative", said Damien Verdier, Sodexo Executive Committee member and Chief Marketing Officer for Client Retention, Offer Marketing, Supply Chain and Sustainable Development.

Before joining Sodexo, Ian Mills, who will report to Damien Verdier, worked at National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the body in charge of air traffic control in the UK, where he was Chief Operating Officer since 2009. Ian Mills held various positions at NATS, including Engineering and Commercial Services Director and Programs Director. Previously, Ian spent eight years in the rail transport sector at Alstom, where he held important responsibilities in the UK and internationally (Europe, Latin America and the United States). Ian began his career as a technician and electrical engineer. He brings over 30 years’ expertise in the management of complex global projects.