Selecta Group Names Venkie Shantaram as New CEO
Dubai – Qahwa World
Switzerland’s Selecta Group has announced the appointment of Venkie Shantaram as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a pivotal step in the company’s ongoing transformation following a major leadership restructure earlier this year.
Shantaram joins the Cham-based food and beverage vending operator from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, where he served as Managing Director since December 2023. Before his role in investment banking, he spent several years at Compass Group, one of the world’s leading catering and support services firms. During his tenure, he held key regional leadership positions, including CEO for Central Asia (2017–2019) and later for Europe and the Middle East (2019–2022).
At Compass Group, Shantaram was credited with delivering record revenues of €5 billion ($5.8 billion), improving profitability, and enhancing customer retention across the region. His performance in leading large-scale operations and driving strategic growth is seen as an ideal fit for Selecta’s ambitions as it seeks to strengthen its position in the European vending and coffee service market.
“We’re delighted to welcome Venkie to Selecta. His deep sector knowledge, clear vision, and people-first leadership style will help us move confidently into the future,” Selecta’s Board of Directors said in an official statement. “The Board is certain that under his guidance, Selecta will continue to grow and thrive.”
Shantaram succeeds Michael Rauch, who served as interim CEO for five months. His appointment follows Selecta’s September 2025 senior leadership overhaul, during which the company eliminated the Chief Commercial Officer position and introduced new roles, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Transition Officer, and Chief Business Profitability Officer.
The executive reshuffle comes after Selecta finalized a recapitalization deal in July 2025, which saw ownership transfer from UK-based private equity firm KKR to a consortium of institutional investors and creditors—including Invesco, Man Group, Strategic Value Partners, and Diameter Capital Partners. The deal provided €330 million ($369 million) to support future growth while cutting the company’s outstanding debt by over €1 billion ($1.1 billion).
Founded in Switzerland, Selecta Group is one of Europe’s largest vending and self-service coffee operators, managing over 365,000 machines across 16 countries. The company’s extensive network serves transport hubs, workplaces, educational institutions, and public buildings, offering both coffee and food solutions. Its coffee portfolio includes leading international brands such as Starbucks We Proudly Serve, Nescafé, ZOÉGAS, Lavazza, Pelican Rouge, and Change Please.
With Shantaram now at the helm, Selecta is expected to focus on accelerating digital innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening partnerships with major beverage and snack brands to adapt to evolving consumer preferences in automated retail.