Ex-Spirit MD takes helm at Weightwatchers UK

Andrew Knight, the former managing director of Spirit Group — Punch's managed pub division — has joined Weightwatchers as managing director of its UK business.

M&C understands that Knight, who was succeeded at Punch just under two years ago by Mike Tye, has been in the role since the beginning of the year.

The UK is the second largest territory for the Weightwatchers business, which is listed on Wall Street and headquartered in New York, outside of the USA.

Its main income streams are through selling products to people that come together through Weightwatcher co-ordinated meetings, run by a self-employed "group leader", and through an array of licensed food products sold in supermarkets.

About 6,000 meetings take place around the country each week. The relationship between Weightwatchers and these group leaders is managed by 50 area managers, who report into one of four regional directors.

In the interim period between leaving Punch and joining Weightwatchers, Knight has been engaged in consultancy work with private equity firms.

Since Knight left Punch, the Spirit business has been renamed Punch Pub Company.