Ed Gardner becomes MD at Corney & Barrow

Knowles, who had started to oversee an evolution of the brand, recently resigned from the company to pursue a career elsewhere in marketing.

Gardner, who has many years’ experience in the drinks industry and has been with Corney & Barrow since 2001, will take up his new role on 1 May.

Chairman Percy Weatherall said: “We wish Lucy well.

However, we are lucky to have an ideal internal candidate to step into this key role.

The Board are confident that Ed can provide the necessary strength of leadership and direction to enable Corney & Barrow Bars to remain the premium bar offering of choice within London’s financial district.”

Earlier this year, the group reported a pre-tax loss of £1.1m in the year to 30 April 2012 against a pre-tax profit of £0.4m in the previous year.

Turnover grew just over 1% to £16.9m due to a combination of service charges, the net effect of new bar openings and closures, and comparatives against the previous year when like-for-likes declined 11%, although these were budgeted to recover in the current year.

Knowles said at the time that the company was seeing improving trends in its current financial year.

The group has been seen as a possible consolidation play for Novus or Drake & Morgan, which is soon to be acquired by Bowmark Capital.

Last year, it announced it was to reposition its estate with a new brand identity and new formats.

It launched an evolution of its brand and its first transport hub site at Waterloo station called C&B Cabin, followed by the opening of its first site under the new C&B Bar identity at Mason’s Avenue.

The group is to rebrand its entire estate as C&B Bars over the next three years.