ex-Contiki MD Katrina Barry appointed as new me&u CEO to drive growth in Australia and lead expansion into international markets

Press Release:

Sydney, 24 March 2022 - Australia’s leading hospitality technology scale-up, me&u, has today announced the appointment of tourism and finance powerhouse, Katrina Barry, as CEO. 

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Spearheading the digital evolution of the hospitality industry, me&u is the leader in at-table ordering, with personalisation and AI driving adoption and usage across more than a thousand venues and 10 million global customers. Katrina’s world-class experience in business transformation and innovation will drive the next phase of growth for me&u.

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Most recently the Managing Director of Trafalgar and Contiki at The Travel Corporation, Katrina led Contiki’s digital transformation, resulting in renewed relevance amongst a younger audience. Barry’s legacy within the tourism sector saw her top Travel Weekly’s Women in Travel Power List; this combined with her background in financial services within businesses like Virgin Active Australia and McKinsey, make her the ideal choice to lead me&u’s Australian operations, and support  the expansion into UK and US markets.

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me&u founder Stevan Premutico will focus his attention on the brand’s global expansion whilst Katrina takes the lead in Australia and the UK. 

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Premutico said: “Since launching in 2019, me&u has experienced rapid growth; with the company on track to achieve an annualised total transaction value of US $1 billion by year’s end. With over 80% market share of Australia’s top pub groups, between January and December 2021, me&u generated 985% more revenue than the same period in 2020.” 

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Of Katrina’s appointment, Premutico went on to say, “Katrina brings with her the depth of experience we need to navigate the changing face of the hospitality industry, and firmly establish me&u’s role in creating better experiences for customers and venues through tech and innovation. With a successful track record in creating a culture that provides purpose, nurtures development and offers professional fulfillment, Katrina is passionate about combining these with a clear business strategy and a focus on evolution.”

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Katrina’s background in transforming the customer experience will be critical to the continued adoption of me&u, as it evolves its product offering to suit changing customer needs and expectations, alongside those of its venue partners. It will also support the expansion of the me&u team, which has seen over 205% growth since the start of 2021.

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Barry said: “I am incredibly excited to join such a fast-paced business that is breaking new ground and changing the face of hospitality. I was instantly drawn to what Stevan has built with me&u; a force for good created by hospitality for hospitality. me&u has a clear goal to blend great tech with great customer service in order to build a better future for the sector. I’m looking forward to continuing to cement our role as the leader in creating an efficient and frictionless dining experience for both customers and venues alike.”

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With over 125 team members based all over the world, thousands of partners, 10 million customers tapping on with me&u globally, and 1.3 million magical moments created each month, me&u is committed to building a better future for hospitality. 

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About me&u

With a vision to be a global leader in the hospitality technology space, me&u is on a mission to help the global hospitality industry recover. Launched in 2018, me&u was conceptualised by Founder Stevan Premutico, to transform the traditional ordering experience in a bid to solve deep rooted structural issues that have been the achilles heel of the hospitality industry for decades. The technology is not just a digital menu, but one that is intelligent and highly personalised to the ordering experience for both the customer and venue. me&u presents the best of both worlds - seamlessly enabling greater human connection, while ensuring efficiency for venues, greater client satisfaction and retail growth. The company that Premutico has created works with operators, not against them, to create a more profitable future for the industry through fair financials, transparency, and a hospitality-led founding team. 

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Media Contact:

For any press enquiries or to organise an interview, please get in touch with our media contact.

Abbey Farlow

me&u@redhavas.com