Dominic William Blakemore was born on 14 June 1969. He attended Queen Mary’s Grammar School and graduated from University College London in 1991. He trained as a chartered accountant and qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Starting in Finance
He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving into the industry. At Cadbury, he rose to the position of Europe Finance and Strategy Director. In 2010, he joined Iglo Foods as Chief Financial Officer, a business that later formed part of Nomad Foods. These roles gave him wide experience in finance and operations.
Joining Compass Group
Blakemore joined Compass Group in February 2012 as Finance Director. He became Chief Operating Officer for Europe in December 2015 and was promoted to Deputy Chief Executive in October 2017. After the sudden death of Richard Cousins, the board advanced his appointment, and he became Compass Group Chief Executive in January 2018.
Leadership at Compass Group
As CEO, he leads a global business that serves clients across education, healthcare, business, and sports in more than 40 countries. His approach is pragmatic. He has focused on financial discipline, operational efficiency, and expanding in key markets, including North America. He steered the company through the COVID-19 crisis and through periods of supply chain strain and rising costs.
Wider Roles and Contributions
Outside Compass Group, he has held other governance roles. He served as a non-executive director at Shire plc until April 2018. He sits on the Council of University College London. He joined the board of the London Stock Exchange Group as a non-executive director effective 1 January 2020.
Pay and Responsibility
Compass Group reports show his single total figure of remuneration for the year ended 30 September 2024 was £9,499,000. The package covered salary, performance bonuses, pension contributions, and other payments. The company’s annual report provides a detailed breakdown.
Personal Life
Blakemore keeps his private life low profile. Public records note he is married and has two sons. He prefers to stay out of the media unless speaking about business matters.
Style and Reputation
Colleagues and public records describe him as disciplined and results-focused. He is not a public showman. His rise reflects steady performance in finance and operations, as well as the trust of boards that have worked with him. He has increasingly emphasised sustainability in food services, including efforts to cut food waste and improve sourcing.
Dominic Blakemore moved from auditing to corporate finance and then into operational leadership. He took the helm of Compass at a difficult moment and maintained focus on steady recovery and long-term performance. He balances running a global employer with a preference for privacy at home.
