Fast-growing RedCat Pub Company appoints new chief executive

The fast-growing RedCat Pub Company has appointed a former senior member of the Greene King team as its chief executive officer.

Richard Lewis will join the company in October and replace Phil Birbeck in the role, who RedCat said was leaving “with our thanks”.

RedCat was founded in 2021 by former Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand to capitalise on a boom in pubs coming onto the market during the pandemic.

The business, which is backed by Oaktree Capital, has since expanded rapidly and acquired over 100 pubs and pub hotels, with an estate of over 1,400 overnight bedrooms.

Lewis joined Greene King as managing director for Local Pubs in 2011 and rose to become group chief operating officer in 2017.

His most recent role was as UK and Ireland chief executive for SSP, which operates food businesses in travel hubs.

Anand said: “Richard is a fantastic addition to the RedCat team. We are now, after two years, a fully functioning Pub Co and Richard’s experience of driving performance, as well as his proven capabilities as a leader, will really help RedCat push on even more.

“We are sincerely grateful to Phil for his effort and support since he joined us. He has played a key role in helping to recruit and build the RedCat team and to further develop our operating platform. We wish him and his family every success in the future.”

Lewis said he was “delighted” to be back working in the pub sector with Anand.

“I am looking forward to helping to further build the business, driving RedCat forward and taking it to the next level,” he said.