Paris, France – November 19, 2025 — Sodexo today announced a significant leadership change in its North American operations, underlining a shift in strategy aimed at accelerating growth and improving performance in its most critical market. Effective January 1, 2026, Thierry Delaporte, newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, will assume direct responsibility for Sodexo’s North American business. At the same time, Sarosh Mistry, President of Sodexo North America, will retire on December 31, 2025, but will continue as a strategic adviser during the transition. Sodexo
A Strategic Leadership Rebalancing
Sodexo’s decision to bring the group CEO into direct operational leadership in North America reflects the region’s central importance to the company’s global ambitions. According to Thierry Delaporte, this structural change is intended to provide “greater focus and faster execution” to capture growth opportunities and unlock value in the North American market.
Delaporte, who brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience, has been tasked with diagnosing the North American business, realigning operations around client needs, and accelerating Sodexo’s performance transformation. In his own words:
“We have great strengths — our people, our clients, and our deep roots in this market — however we must move with greater focus and at a faster pace to capture our fair share of the market.” Sodexo
Honoring Legacy, Enabling Transition
Sarosh Mistry, who has led Sodexo North America with distinction, will retire at the end of 2025 after nearly 15 years of dedicated service. As part of a carefully managed succession plan, he will remain engaged as a strategic adviser so that institutional knowledge and client relationships remain anchored during the leadership handover.
Sodexo has expressed gratitude for Mistry’s contributions: his leadership through evolving market dynamics, contracts, and operations has laid a solid foundation for the next chapter. Delaporte emphasized his appreciation, stating that Mistry’s role has been “instrumental in building the strong footprint Sodexo has in North America.”
Strategic Implications & Market Context
This leadership rebalancing comes at a critical juncture for Sodexo. The company has recently reported that its Fiscal 2025 results are in line with revised guidance, but signaled 2026 will be a transitional year as it addresses challenges specifically in North America.
Key factors driving the change include:
- Slower Growth in Core Segments
Sodexo has previously communicated that its North American growth has been weighed down by performance in education and healthcare services. By placing Delaporte at the helm in North America, Sodexo is signaling a more aggressive posture to revitalize these underperforming areas. - Strengthening Execution and Efficiency
Delaporte’s mandate is clear: assess the existing organization, identify bottlenecks, and drive cost-efficient growth. His early months will reportedly focus on improving operational efficiency, streamlining execution and prioritizing client-centric innovation. - Governance & Strategic Renewal
This move aligns with Sodexo’s broader governance restructuring. Earlier in 2025, the company announced a new CEO, Thierry Delaporte, effective November 10. Simultaneously, the company adopted a “dissociated governance” model, separating the roles of CEO and Board Chairman. The consolidation of leadership in North America under Delaporte aligns with this shift, giving him both global and regional mandate.
What It Means for Stakeholders & Investors
For investors, clients, and strategic partners, this leadership change carries several important implications:
- Investor Confidence: By centralizing leadership, Sodexo aims to accelerate its turnaround in North America, potentially restoring margin momentum and boosting shareholder confidence.
- Client Impact: Key clients in corporate, healthcare, education and facilities management may benefit from more direct oversight, deeper alignment with global priorities, and faster response to market shifts.
- Operational Footprint: Realignment under Delaporte could lead to renewed investments in North American operations — including efficiency improvements, innovation, and talent development.
- Strategic Continuity: With Mistry serving as adviser, Sodexo avoids a disruptive leadership vacuum; his continuity role will help maintain relationships and preserve strategic direction.
- Long-Term Vision: This move signals that Sodexo considers North America not just as a business segment, but as a core pillar for future growth — one that deserves dedicated leadership and hands-on transformation.
Next Steps & Key Milestones
Key developments to watch in the coming months include:
- January 2026: Delaporte assumes his operational role in North America, marking the start of a new leadership era.
- Transition Planning: Mistry’s strategic advisory role will be closely watched; how he helps shape Delaporte’s agenda will be critical.
- Execution Metrics: Investors should track North American performance — especially organic growth, contract wins, and margin improvement — to assess the success of Delaporte’s early initiatives.
- Governance Evolution: Following the governance changes announced earlier this year, the effectiveness of the dissociated leadership model will be a key signal of Sodexo’s long-term direction.
- Annual Guidance: With 2026 already framed as a transitional year, market participants will monitor Sodexo’s updated guidance, particularly as it pertains to its North American operations.
About Ixoraly
Ixoraly is a global business-intelligence platform delivering real-time analysis, market strategy and cross-sector insights. We equip senior executives, investors and strategic teams with actionable intelligence — helping them interpret leadership changes, operational shifts and growth inflection points in major companies and global markets.
