New management team for ex-Whitbread pubs

Morgan Grenfell has confirmed the management line-up for its 3,000-strong pub business created out of Whitbread's estate.Robbie Halkett, pictured...

Morgan Grenfell has confirmed the management line-up for its 3,000-strong pub business created out of Whitbread's estate.

Robbie Halkett, pictured right, the former head of Whitbread Pub Partnerships, is the new managing director in charge of leased operations.

Karen Forrester will be managing director for the managed house operation, as revealed on thePublican.com on May 10. She was director and general manager of Bass Leisure Retail's All Bar One chain and was responsible for Browns bar-restaurants and overseas development of Bass' restaurants.

Paul Fenney, pictured left, remains in the role of finance director for the whole estate, formerly Whitbread's Pub & Bar Company.

They join chief executive Ian Payne, a former managing director of Bass' leased operations, who was appointed after Morgan Grenfell bought Whitbread's pubs in March.

Other Whitbread management to remain in their old roles include business process and IT director David Broom and property director Ray Parker.

However, the shake-up will see the departure of other top Whitbread personnel by the end of May.

These include Ted Kennedy, most recently managing director of the unbranded community pub business Pubs Inn-Line, and Tim Scoble, who is managing director of high street brands, such as Hogshead and Casa. Marketing and strategic planning director Jamie Buchan and human resources director David Waters will also leave.

Morgan Grenfell's business, temporarily called Fairbar, is set to expand the 1,700-strong Pub Partnerships by converting smaller managed houses to lease. But it appears to be interested in holding on to its managed estate of high street brands rather than sell them on.

Related stories:

Morgan Grenfell to develop branded pubs (May 10, 2001)

New boss arrives after Whitbread deal (March 29, 2001)