Elliott to leave Greene King
David Elliott, the long-serving managing director of Greene King's leased and tenanted pub division, is to step down from the group at the end of January 2010.
He will be replaced at the helm of the 1,400-strong division by Simon Longbottom, a former Mitchells & Butlers executive, who recently resigned from his post as managing director of Gala Coral's bingo and casino arm.
Elliott has run Greene King's leased and tenanted division since joining the company from Scottish & Newcastle Retail in 1998.
It is thought that he made Greene King aware of his intention to retire from the company earlier this year.
Longbottom joined Coral from M&B in 2004. His last job at M&B was as director and general manager of its Ember Inns brand.
Before that, at Mill House Inns, he was a winner of an operations managers award, the annual competition organised by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, designed to identify the sector's best area managers.
Longbottom is currently on so-called "gardening leave" from Gala Coral.
Rooney Anand, chief executive of Greene King, said Elliott had made a "significant contribution" to growing the size of the tenanted business, its profits, and the quality of the estate.
"I would like to extend my sincere thanks and best wishes from everyone here at Greene King and wish him all the best for the future," Anand added.
Elliott's 11 years saw Pub Partners arm grow from 620 pubs to more than 1,300 sites, and profits rise 120 per cent from £32m to £71m over the same period.
Anand added: "We are delighted that Simon Longbottom is joining the team at Greene King.
"Simon has significant and highly relevant experience in the pub and leisure sectors, which will be invaluable to Pub Partners, particularly as we continue to take a leadership role in the adaptation and ongoing improvement of the tenanted pub model."
