Deliveroo Names Miki Kuusi as CEO Following £2.9bn DoorDash Deal
The food delivery market has a new heavyweight leader at the table. Following its £2.9 billion acquisition by US delivery giant DoorDash, Deliveroo has confirmed Miki Kuusi as its new CEO. Kuusi, best known as the co-founder of Finnish delivery business Wolt and DoorDash’s current Head of International, takes over from Deliveroo co-founder Will Shu, who announced last month he would step down once the sale was complete.
For Deliveroo, this is more than a change in leadership—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. As DoorDash co-founder Tony Xu put it in a statement to The Grocer:
“This is the beginning of a new chapter for Deliveroo and DoorDash, not the end of an old one.”
That sentiment captures the significance of the move: the integration of a distinctly European player into the wider global ambitions of a business that already operates in over 30 markets.
Why This Matters for Food & Beverage
The acquisition underlines just how central delivery has become to the food and beverage ecosystem. What began as a convenience channel has rapidly become a primary growth driver for restaurants, grocers, and FMCG brands. For many, visibility on delivery platforms now directly impacts revenue and customer acquisition.
DoorDash’s investment isn’t just about geography. Its push into automation—like delivery robots and smart kitchen scales—shows that the future of food delivery will lean heavily on technology. For brands, this means two things: opportunities to scale reach more quickly, and mounting pressure to keep up with consumer expectations shaped by speed, data, and seamless digital experiences.
Leadership and Recruitment Implications
The leadership change at Deliveroo tells us a lot about where the sector is heading:
- From founder-led to operator-led: Will Shu has been at the helm since Deliveroo launched in 2013. His decision to step aside is part of a wider trend in food & beverage businesses where founders hand over to leaders who can manage scale, international integration, and investor expectations.
- Global talent mobility: Kuusi’s appointment reflects how companies in this sector are now sourcing senior leaders internationally. The ability to move talent across borders, and to bring in executives with cross-market experience, is becoming increasingly common.
- Tech as a leadership skill: Food and beverage isn’t just about supply chains anymore. Executives are expected to understand digital marketplaces, data-driven decision making, and consumer-facing technology. This is shaping recruitment strategies across the sector, from boardrooms down to mid-senior operational roles.
What Comes Next
As Deliveroo enters this next stage under DoorDash ownership, the knock-on effects will be felt well beyond its own workforce. The merger will influence how restaurants and FMCG brands approach partnerships, how grocers strategise around quick commerce, and how recruitment firms source leadership talent with the right balance of operational, digital, and international skills.
For UK and European food and beverage businesses, this deal is another reminder: delivery isn’t an add-on anymore. It’s a core part of the growth plan. And the leaders who can bridge technology, consumer behaviour, and international scale are the ones who will define what happens next.