Roisin Currie: The Business Leader Behind Greggs

Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Business Blog Media Editorial Team

Introduction

Roisin Currie CBE is a British business executive best known as the Chief Executive of Greggs plc.

She joined Greggs in 2010 and worked in several senior positions before becoming Chief Executive in May 2022. Her career has focused on employees, retail operations, property, customer service and company growth.

As of July 2026, Currie continues to lead Greggs. The company operates more than 2,700 shops and is investing in new locations, menu choices, technology and distribution centres.

She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director at Howden Joinery Group, a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Chair of the Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending.

Roisin Currie Quick Facts

Fact	Verified information
Full name	Roisin Helen Currie
Professional name	Roisin Currie
Birth month and year	November 1971
Nationality	British
Profession	Retail and hospitality executive
Known for	Leading Greggs plc
Current main role	Chief Executive of Greggs
Joined Greggs	2010
Became Chief Executive	May 2022
Previous major employer	Asda
University	University of Strathclyde
Qualification	BA Business
Honour	CBE for services to hospitality
Other board role	Independent Non-Executive Director at Howdens

Who Is Roisin Currie?

Roisin Currie is an experienced British retail leader who has worked in the industry for more than three decades.

She is mainly known for leading Greggs, a major British food-to-go company. Greggs sells products such as sausage rolls, sandwiches, pastries, pizzas, doughnuts, coffee and cold drinks.

Currie did not join Greggs directly as its Chief Executive. She spent many years learning different parts of retail, including employee management, shop operations, distribution and property.

This broad experience prepared her to lead a company with thousands of shops and tens of thousands of employees.

The official Greggs board profile continues to list Roisin Currie as the company’s Chief Executive.

Why Is Roisin Currie Famous?

Roisin Currie is famous because she became the Chief Executive of Greggs in May 2022.

Her appointment was widely reported as the first time a woman had become Chief Executive in the company’s history.

She is also known for helping Greggs:

• Open shops in new locations
• Improve its supply and distribution network
• Develop new food and drink products
• Reach customers through delivery and digital services
• Create employment opportunities
• Support people leaving prison
• Maintain its focus on affordable food

Her public role became even more important as Greggs continued growing beyond traditional town and city high streets.

The company now operates in railway stations, airports, retail parks, petrol stations, supermarkets and other busy locations.

Early Life and Education

Roisin Currie grew up in Glasgow, Scotland.

She attended Our Lady and St Francis Secondary School near Glasgow Green. While she was still at school, she gained early retail experience by working in a shoe shop and at Asda.

These jobs helped her understand how shops operate and how employees communicate with customers.

Currie later studied at the University of Strathclyde. The university records her qualification as a BA Business, completed in 1992.

Her early retail experience influenced her career choice. Instead of leaving the industry after graduation, she joined Asda’s graduate programme and began building a long-term career in retail management.

Roisin Currie’s Career at Asda

Currie spent approximately 20 years working at Asda.

She began through the company’s graduate programme and moved through different locations and departments. Her work increasingly focused on employees, company culture and large retail operations.

Her senior Asda positions included:

• Head of Reward
• Retail People Director
• Distribution People Director

These jobs involved much more than hiring employees.

Large retail companies need systems for training, pay, performance, workplace safety, career development and communication. Distribution roles also require an understanding of warehouses, transport, product movement and store supply.

Currie’s Asda career gave her experience in both customer-facing shops and the systems working behind them.

When Did Roisin Currie Join Greggs?

Roisin Currie joined Greggs in 2010 as Group People Director.

This position made her responsible for important matters connected with employees and workplace culture.

In 2017, she became Retail Operations and People Director. This wider role combined employee leadership with responsibility for shop operations.

She later became Retail and Property Director in 2021. Her responsibilities included the company’s retail estate and the locations in which Greggs operated.

These promotions show that Currie gradually moved from a specialist people role into broader business leadership.

How Did Roisin Currie Become Greggs CEO?

Greggs announced in January 2022 that Roisin Currie would succeed Roger Whiteside as Chief Executive.

She became Chief Executive-designate and joined the company’s board as an Executive Director in February 2022.

Currie formally became Chief Executive on 17 May 2022.

Her appointment was an internal promotion. By that time, she had already spent around 12 years working inside Greggs.

She understood the company’s employees, shops, property plans and daily operations before taking its highest executive position.

This type of succession can help a company maintain stability because the new leader already understands its culture and major challenges.

Roisin Currie’s Leadership Style

Currie’s public work shows a strong interest in employees, customers and practical business operations.

People and Workplace Culture

Her early senior positions focused on people management.

Currie has continued to describe employees as an important part of Greggs’ success. Shop workers, drivers, warehouse teams, production employees and office staff all help the company serve customers.

Her approach shares some ideas with customer-first retail leadership, where employee culture and customer service are treated as long-term business strengths.

Value for Customers

Greggs has built much of its popularity around simple food sold at accessible prices.

Currie’s strategy has continued to focus on value while also adding new menu choices and convenient ways to order.

This is especially important when customers are facing higher household costs.

Convenient Locations

Greggs is opening more shops away from traditional high streets.

New locations include transport hubs, drive-through sites, petrol stations and retail parks. The company wants customers to find a Greggs shop during travel, work and everyday journeys.

Stronger Supply Systems

Opening more shops requires more than finding suitable buildings.

Greggs also needs factories, warehouses, vehicles, technology and trained employees. Currie has therefore supported investment in manufacturing and national distribution centres.

Her work is part of the wider world of British food and hospitality leadership, where growth depends on reliable operations, trusted brands and clear customer value.

Greggs’ Growth Under Roisin Currie

Greggs has continued expanding during Currie’s time as Chief Executive.

According to the company’s results for the first half of 2026:

• Total sales increased by 7.2% to £1.1 billion
• Greggs opened 34 net new shops
• The company had 2,773 shops on 27 June 2026
• It began testing a self-service format called Greggs Express
• It opened a travel-hub shop at Tenerife South Airport
• It expected around 100 to 110 net new shops during 2026

Greggs has also said that it sees an opportunity for at least 3,500 UK shops over the longer term.

New distribution centres in Derby and Kettering are expected to provide the capacity needed to supply a larger shop network.

These figures do not mean Currie created Greggs or built the company alone. Greggs existed for many decades before she became Chief Executive.

However, she is responsible for leading its present strategy and helping the company prepare for its next stage of growth.

Menu Development and Technology

Modern food businesses must respond to changing customer habits.

Greggs still sells many of the products that made it famous, but it has also expanded into:

• Iced drinks
• Salads
• Pizza
• Breakfast products
• Vegetarian and vegan choices
• Evening meals
• Delivery
• Click and Collect
• Mobile-app rewards

During 2026, Greggs also started testing Greggs Express, a self-service coffee and food format.

These changes are designed to give customers more reasons to visit during different parts of the day.

Work Supporting People Leaving Prison

One important part of Currie’s public work is her support for people who face barriers when looking for employment.

She helped develop Greggs’ Fresh Start programme. The programme has supported people leaving prison and others who may struggle to enter the workplace.

Currie also chairs the Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending.

The forum works with employers and organisations connected with the justice system. Its purpose is to encourage businesses to consider suitable candidates who have completed prison sentences and are trying to rebuild their lives.

Stable employment can help people develop skills, earn income and return to their communities.

Currie’s work in this area shows that her leadership interests extend beyond shop sales and financial growth.

Roisin Currie’s CBE Honour

Roisin Currie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.

The award is commonly written as CBE.

She received the honour for services to hospitality.

The UK government announcement also recognised her work connected with business growth, workplace culture, talent development and social mobility.

Her full professional title may therefore appear as Roisin Currie CBE.

Other Business and Charity Roles

Currie holds several responsibilities outside her main position at Greggs.

Howden Joinery Group

She became an Independent Non-Executive Director of Howden Joinery Group in July 2024.

A non-executive director does not manage the company’s daily operations. Instead, the person provides experience, reviews decisions and helps oversee company leadership.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Currie is a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

The organisation supports young people through activities connected with skills, volunteering, physical development and outdoor challenges.

Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending

She serves as Chair of the Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending.

This role is closely connected with her wider interest in employment opportunities and social mobility.

What Is Roisin Currie Doing Now?

As of July 2026, Roisin Currie remains Chief Executive of Greggs.

Her current work includes:

• Leading the company’s growth strategy
• Overseeing new shop openings
• Supporting investment in distribution centres
• Expanding the food and drink menu
• Testing new shop formats
• Communicating with shareholders
• Supporting employee development
• Strengthening Greggs’ social programmes

She also continues her non-executive role at Howdens and her work with charitable and employment organisations.

What Can Business Leaders Learn From Roisin Currie?

Currie’s career offers several simple business lessons.

Learn Different Parts of a Company

She worked in people, operations, distribution and property before becoming Chief Executive.

Leaders can make stronger decisions when they understand how different departments work together.

Experience Can Grow Slowly

Currie did not become a major company leader at the beginning of her career.

She spent decades gaining experience and accepting wider responsibilities.

Employees Affect Customer Experience

A company’s strategy cannot work without people who produce products, move supplies and serve customers.

Supporting employees can therefore improve both workplace culture and customer service.

Growth Needs Strong Systems

Opening shops is only one part of business expansion.

A growing company also needs warehouses, technology, factories, transport, managers and reliable suppliers.

Social Programmes Can Support Business

Employment programmes can help communities while also introducing businesses to people who want an opportunity to work.

Interesting Facts About Roisin Currie

• She gained retail experience while still attending school.
• She spent around 20 years working at Asda.
• She joined Greggs 12 years before becoming its Chief Executive.
• She has worked in people, retail, distribution, operations and property roles.
• She received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University.
• She enjoys learning the Italian language.
• She received a CBE for services to hospitality in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Roisin Currie?

Roisin Currie is a British retail and hospitality executive. She is best known as the Chief Executive of Greggs plc.

Is Roisin Currie still the CEO of Greggs?

Yes. As of July 2026, Greggs continues to identify Roisin Currie as its Chief Executive.

When did Roisin Currie become Greggs CEO?

She formally became Chief Executive of Greggs on 17 May 2022.

When did Roisin Currie join Greggs?

She joined Greggs in 2010 as Group People Director.

What did Roisin Currie do before Greggs?

She spent approximately 20 years at Asda and held senior positions connected with employees, retail and distribution.

Where did Roisin Currie study?

She studied at the University of Strathclyde and completed a BA Business degree in 1992.

When was Roisin Currie born?

Companies House records her birth month and year as November 1971.

What does CBE mean in Roisin Currie’s name?

CBE means Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Currie received the honour for services to hospitality in 2025.

Does Roisin Currie have another board position?

Yes. She is an Independent Non-Executive Director at Howden Joinery Group.

Why is Roisin Currie important to Greggs?

She leads the company’s current strategy, including shop expansion, supply-chain investment, menu development, technology and employee programmes.

Conclusion

Roisin Currie is the business leader responsible for guiding Greggs through an important period of expansion.

Her journey began with early retail work in Glasgow and continued through a 20-year career at Asda. She later joined Greggs, moved through several leadership positions and became Chief Executive in 2022.

Her career combines business growth with a strong interest in employees, customer value and employment opportunities.

As Greggs opens more shops and develops new services, Currie remains one of the most important leaders in the modern British food and retail industry.