Sodexo Appoints Janet Wigley as CEO for Corporate Services UK to Drive Workplace Growth

Written By: Somudranil Sarkar

Somudranil Sarkar

Somudranil Sarkar is a literary artist whose writing blends precision with imagination, delving deep into human emotions and societal constructs. As a writer, he crafts stories that breathe life into abstract ideas, creating worlds where language serves as both paint and canvas. As an editor, Sarkar shapes narratives that resonate globally, elevating writing beyond grammar to tell meaningful, profound stories. His work challenges readers to reflect, question, and understand the world more deeply. With his unique vision, Sarkar pushes boundaries, leaving a lasting imprint on both literature and the way we connect through words.

See Full Bio

September 2, 2026 3:17 PM |

Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Janet Wigley as CEO for Corporate Services UK, giving the experienced workplace services executive responsibility for its Business & Industries operations as the company targets further growth across corporate food services, facilities management and workplace solutions.

Wigley brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the position, having held leadership roles across hospitality and workplace services in a wide range of operating environments.

Her background includes corporate workplaces, defence, government, offshore operations, schools and universities.

At Sodexo, she will oversee services provided to corporate clients across headquarters, regional offices, data centres, manufacturing sites and research and development facilities.

The appointment comes as Sodexo continues to invest in technology-enabled services and develop more tailored solutions for corporate customers.

A leadership appointment focused on workplace performance

Wigley’s new role places her at the centre of Sodexo’s strategy for its UK corporate services business.

The company’s Business & Industries division works with organisations across sectors including professional and financial services, pharmaceuticals, media and technology.

These clients increasingly expect workplace services to support wider business objectives rather than simply provide individual facilities or catering functions.

Modern corporate workplaces can involve multiple services, including food and beverage, cleaning, facilities management, workplace experience, technical support and other operational functions.

Sodexo’s strategy is increasingly focused on bringing these services together and using technology to improve how they are delivered.

Wigley will be responsible for leading that activity across the UK corporate market.

More than three decades of industry experience

Wigley arrives at Sodexo with a career spanning more than 30 years.

Her professional experience covers both hospitality and workplace services, giving her exposure to different types of customers, work environments and operational requirements.

She has worked across corporate environments as well as sectors such as defence and government.

Her experience also includes offshore operations and education, covering schools and universities.

This breadth is relevant to Sodexo because its corporate services business operates across highly varied environments.

A data centre has very different operational requirements from a financial services headquarters. A manufacturing facility can require different health, safety and workforce support systems from a technology company’s office.

Managing these different environments requires a combination of operational discipline, customer understanding and adaptable service delivery.

Sodexo expands its focus on technology-enabled services

Technology is expected to be an important component of Wigley’s new remit.

Sodexo is continuing to invest in its food and facilities management services for corporate clients, including the digital and technology-enabled transformation of its operations.

Technology is increasingly being used across workplace services to improve efficiency, monitor facilities, manage resources and provide employees with more convenient ways to access services.

For large corporate clients, digital systems can also help provide greater visibility over workplace operations and performance.

However, technology is only one component of the service proposition.

The effectiveness of workplace technology depends on how well it is integrated with employees, facilities and the wider customer experience.

Sodexo’s approach under Wigley will therefore involve combining technological development with operational delivery.

Tailored services become increasingly important

Another key element of Sodexo’s strategy is the development of tailored service offerings based on individual client requirements.

Corporate customers do not necessarily have identical workplace needs.

A multinational pharmaceutical company may require highly controlled facilities and specialist support, while a professional services firm may place greater emphasis on hospitality, food services and employee experience.

Manufacturing businesses and research facilities can have yet another set of requirements.

A standardised service model can provide efficiency, but customisation can allow workplace providers to respond more closely to the objectives and operating environment of each client.

Wigley will be expected to help strengthen this customer-focused approach while maintaining consistent service quality across Sodexo’s corporate portfolio.

The role of food services in modern workplaces

Food remains an important part of Sodexo’s corporate offering.

Workplace catering has evolved beyond simply providing employees with meals during the working day.

Corporate food services can contribute to employee wellbeing, workplace culture and the overall experience of spending time in an office.

Employers are increasingly considering food and hospitality as part of their wider employee proposition.

This creates opportunities for service providers such as Sodexo to combine catering expertise with workplace management and technology.

For corporate customers, the objective can be to create workplaces that encourage employees to use shared spaces while providing convenient, high-quality services.

Wigley’s leadership will therefore cover an area where hospitality and corporate workplace management increasingly overlap.

Facilities management remains central to the business

While food and employee experience receive significant attention, facilities management remains a fundamental part of Sodexo’s corporate services operation.

Corporate facilities need to function reliably every day.

Building services, cleaning, maintenance, security-related support, environmental management and other operational functions can have a direct impact on workplace productivity.

For organisations operating data centres, manufacturing sites or research facilities, operational reliability can be particularly important.

A failure in a critical facility can affect employees, production, research programmes or customer operations.

Sodexo’s role is therefore broader than conventional workplace hospitality.

Its services form part of the operational infrastructure supporting major organisations.

Jean Renton highlights technology and productivity

Jean Renton, CEO of Sodexo UK & Ireland, said clients choose Sodexo for its ability to provide technology-enabled services that improve workplaces and support productivity.

She also highlighted Wigley’s expertise in workplace services and her record of building high-performing teams.

That leadership experience will be important as Sodexo seeks to combine service quality with operational efficiency.

For large corporate contracts, performance is generally measured across multiple dimensions.

These can include service reliability, customer satisfaction, financial performance, employee engagement and the ability to adapt services as workplace requirements change.

Strong leadership is consequently required to coordinate multiple specialist teams while maintaining a clear focus on the client’s business objectives.

Wigley places people and talent development at the centre

Wigley’s career has also included involvement in employee resource groups, women in leadership programmes and mentoring initiatives.

These activities point to an additional focus on people and talent development.

Workplace services are ultimately delivered by people, even when technology plays an increasing role.

Recruitment, training, management and employee engagement can directly influence the quality and consistency of services provided to corporate clients.

For a business operating across multiple locations and sectors, developing strong leadership and frontline teams can be particularly important.

Wigley’s experience in talent development therefore complements her operational and commercial responsibilities.

Corporate workplaces are changing

The appointment comes at a time when the role of the workplace is being reassessed by employers.

Hybrid working has changed how many organisations use offices, with companies increasingly focusing on why employees should spend time in shared workplaces.

This has increased attention on workplace experience.

Offices need to provide environments that support collaboration, productivity, social interaction and employee wellbeing.

Food services, hospitality and facilities management can all contribute to that objective.

For Sodexo, this creates an opportunity to move further towards an integrated workplace proposition rather than providing isolated services.

Wigley’s new position will cover precisely this intersection between operational services and corporate workplace performance.

A broad corporate client portfolio

Sodexo’s Business & Industries division serves clients across several major sectors.

These include professional and financial services, pharmaceuticals, media and technology.

The diversity of these industries creates a broad range of workplace requirements.

Financial services businesses may operate large headquarters with extensive employee facilities. Technology companies can place a strong emphasis on flexible and collaborative environments. Pharmaceutical organisations may require specialised workplace and research facilities.

Sodexo’s ability to adapt its services to these different requirements will be a major component of the division’s future growth.