Lawson joins The Liberation Group from GrandVision, where he has served as chief executive since 2011 and will succeed current Liberation Group chief executive of 11 years, Mark Crowther.
Lawson’s 20 years of leisure and retail experience includes four years as managing director of Greene King’s local pubs division and senior positions at Sainsbury’s.
Richard Grainger, executive chairman of the Liberation Group, commented: “The Liberation Group now consists of two breweries, three distribution businesses and 116 pubs across the Channel Islands and the West Country.
“Mark Crowther has contributed significantly to the success of the business and I want to extend the thanks of the board and staff to him.
“Jonathan Lawson’s wide-ranging executive experience across the leisure sector will enable him to drive the business onward and fulfil the board’s expectations for the Group.
“We very much look forward to welcoming him into the business.”
Following its acquisition by Caledonia Investments in 2016, the Liberation Group has focused on a growth plan involving targeted capital expenditure within its estate and a range of acquisitions of pubs and pub groups across the south of England as well as Butcombe Brewery.
Jonathan Lawson added: “It’s a great pleasure to be returning to the pub sector and I am hugely excited to join the Liberation Group.
“The team has built an excellent business and I am looking forward to meeting the people, our customers and to fully immersing myself in the company.
“This is a great organisation with clear opportunities ahead and I am delighted to be leading it through the next period of its growth.”
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