US-based private equity group Starwood Capital has hired Desmond Taljaard, a former Whitbread director, which has added to speculation that it is preparing a bid for the UK leisure company.

Taljaard – who was group development director at Whitbread, where he oversaw the £1bn disposal of its UK Marriott business – will be joining Starwood as senior vice president and head of asset management of the company’s European business.

Leisure Opportunities reported yesterday (6 November) that Starwood has amassed a stake of almost 3 per cent in Whitbread, which owns Costa Coffee, Premier Travel Inn and David Lloyd Leisure.

The rumours have sent Whitbread shares to an all-time high of £14.54, which values the company at £3.2bn.