Forecourt operator Euro Garages has recruited Imraan Patel, the former head of legal at Orange, as its first group general counsel and company secretary.
Patel has joined the company’s executive board and is responsible for all legal, regulatory and compliance matters including the corporate secretariat.
Most recently, he served as head of legal and a member of the leadership team at the Orange Mobile Enterprise unit of Paris-based telco.
Euro Garages, which was founded in 2001, has grown rapidly in two years, acquiring over 170 new sites as well as purchasing 48 forecourts from EXXON Mobil’s Esso unit last year. It has been reported that that the company is considering a US IPO in several years’ time.
Founded in 2001 by Mohsin and Zuber Issa, Euro Garages currently manages sites under the BP, Esso and Shell fuel brands, and last year received a major £1.3bn investment from TDR Capital. One of the UK’s largest privately-owned forecourt operators, the deal propelled Euro Garages to become one of Europe’s leading fuel retailers. Eversheds acted for Euro Garages and Linklaters advised TDR Capital.
The duo said in a statement: ‘Imraan understands our vision and will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our ambitions of becoming Europe’s leading forecourt retailer. He brings invaluable knowledge and experience of multinational environments to us and is a welcome addition to our management team.’
Other in-house hires made of late include Lloyds Banking Group which appointed Tom Spencer from the Financial Conduct Authority as its new general counsel for litigation, regulatory and competition.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
