Paradies Lagardère Promotes Nikki Harland to Chief Operating Officer

ATLANTA, October 5, 2021 – Paradies Lagardère, the award-winning airport retailer and restaurateur, has announced the promotion of Nikki Harland to the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In this new role, Harland will oversee the general operations and customer service initiatives for both the Retail Division and Dining Division of the company.

Paradies Lagardère created this new role to protect the specialties of both Dining and Retail while leveraging best practices and synergies across its two major divisions. The role has further importance as the organization 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 successfully led various departments and initiatives for the organization with proven results. 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 organization’s new Dining Division, served on ACI North America’s Human Resources Committee, was a founding member of the company’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and was just named to the Atlanta Business League’s 2021 list of “Atlanta’s Top 100 Women of Influence.”

“Nikki has consistently elevated our culture and business with her expertise and is a true leader within our company and industry,” said President and CEO Gregg Paradies. “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, Inc., Toys"R"Us and Turner Broadcasting System, and earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and her MBA from Clark Atlanta University.