USA. Airport retailer and restaurateur Paradies Lagardère has promoted Nikki Harland to the role of Chief Operating Officer. She will oversee the general operations and customer service initiatives for the company’s retail and dining divisions.
The position is a newly-created one, and Paradies Lagardère said it has been added to protect the specialties of both dining and retail while leveraging best practices and synergies across its two major divisions.
The role has special significance as the organisation continues to grow its hybrid operations – those airports in which it manages both dining and retail locations, as well as individual hybrid units.
Over the past seven years, Harland has led various departments and initiatives for Paradies Lagardère. Most recently, she was the President of the Retail Division and directed the company’s talent management efforts for the six years prior to that.
Additionally, she was the executive sponsor for the 2018 integration efforts of the organisation’s new Dining Division.
She has served on ACI North America’s Human Resources Committee, was a founding member of the company’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and has recently been named to the Atlanta Business League’s 2021 list of Atlanta’s Top 100 Women of Influence.
Paradies Lagardère President and CEO Gregg Paradies said: “Nikki has consistently elevated our culture and business with her expertise and is a true leader within our company and industry.”
He added: “I am proud to witness the positive impact she’s had on Paradies Lagardère and have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead our retail and dining operations to new and exciting levels of success.”
Prior to joining Paradies Lagardère, Harland held leadership positions with Gap, Toys “R” Us and Turner Broadcasting System.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and her MBA from Clark Atlanta University.
