London Town names Billy Buchanan as its new chief executive

London Town, the AIM-listed pub group which acquired GRS Inns earlier this year, has appointed Billy Buchanan to the combined roles of chief executive and chief financial officer.

Richard Gundry, who previously held the position of chief executive, has been made the group's development director, while Ian Robinson (previously London Town's executive chairman and finance director) is to become non-executive Chairman.

Buchanan has worked in various financial and chief executive roles in the leisure sector since qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1989.

The group also announced the appointment of Nigel Le Quesne as a non-executive Director with immediate effect.

Le Quesne will assume the role from David Beech who has resigned from the board last week.

The executive reshuffle is the third to take place at London Town in less than 12 months.

The £4.31m acquisition of GRS Inns at the beginning of this year triggered the departure of London Town's then-chief executive Mark Crowther, who was replaced by Richard Gundry, as well as the arrival of pub industry veteran John Sands as executive chairman.

Sands resigned from the business in July, citing other business commitments.