The brewer of Badger bottled ales and operator of 180 pubs across southern England has announced that outgoing chairman Mark Woodhouse will be replaced by Anthony Woodhouse – with the former to become Hall & Woodhouse’s family director.
In addition, the departure of directors Michael Owen, David Hoare and Martin Scott – with Hoare and Scott retiring after 18 years with the company – has paved the way for Matthew Kearsey to become the pubco’s managing director following 10 years of service at the company.
Discussing his new role, Kearsey commented: “I’m both humbled and excited to be taking on this role in what is a very special company, as I have seen first-hand during my time here. We have a growing business with great people who have ambitious plans for the future. I’m looking forward to supporting the team through the next stage of our journey.”
Clear strategy
“We have been planning this succession for a number of years in the knowledge that some directors were due to retire this year,” Mark Woodhouse explained.
“With regards to the new leadership team, I don’t think we have had a better one in our 242-year history to drive the business forward.”
Anthony Woodhouse added: “Matt Kearsey joined us 10 years ago and quickly turned around our tenanted pub division, evolving it into the market-leading Business Partnerships estate we have today. He has subsequently further enhanced our Managed House business which, consequently, has seen a rapid growth in sales and profits. But most importantly, he and his leadership team live and breathe our company values.
“With underlying group profits up 17% despite last year’s challenging trading conditions, a brilliant team in place and a clear strategy for the future, I am confident that we will have plenty to celebrate at our 250th birthday in 2027.”
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