Loungers hires Peach finance director
Loungers has appointed former Peach Pubs finance director Andrew Percy to a new role at the company, as the pub/restaurant/bar brand continues is expansion.
Percy will take over the financial director role from Nick Collins who is stepping up to chief executive officer. He previous roles include working as finance director at Burt's Bees and financial controller at Mill House Inns (up to the point of the business being acquired by Punch in 2006).
Speaking of the appointment Nick Collins, who led the recruitment process to find his successor, said: "Over the last few months we have carried out a thorough search process and having seen a number of candidates we were delighted to offer Andrew the role of Finance Director. Andrew has great sector experience, most recently at Peach Pub Company and previously at Mill House Inns and culturally he is an excellent fit with the business. Andrew joins at an exciting time for the business, is well placed to lead and develop the finance team through a further period of significant growth and I look forward to working alongside him."
Commenting on his appointment Andrew Percy said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining Loungers, one of the most ambitious and innovative businesses around. I've been really impressed by what Alex [Reilley], Jake [Bishop], Nick [Collins] and the Loungers team have achieved and I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping the business grow significantly over the coming years and really cementing its place as a leader in the industry."
Loungers managing director, Alex Reilley, said: "Andrew joins Loungers at an extremely busy and ambitious time and coupled with Nick stepping up to COO represents a significant strengthening of our senior management team as the business looks to achieve its goal of growing to 90 sites by 2017."
Peach said it had started the hunt for a new financial director, as it looked set to hit £23m turnover and add two new pubs to its portfolio by the end of 2014.
"We're already on track for a bumper year, with a solid start to the quarter and like-for-likes of 6.8% over the last three months, as well as a particularly good Easter," said Peach co-founder Hamish Stoddart.
"Two of our pubs, The Fishes in Oxford and The Embankment in Bedford were star performers, turning in a record-breaking Easter day, and we're optimistic that the next few months are going to be just as good.
"As well as getting us in the best shape to capitalise on growth potential, we also want someone who is hungry for a bigger role, someone who can support myself, Lee Cash and the other directors as we channel even more of our energies into getting Peach to a £30m business with 22 great pubs."
Percy will start his new role at Loungers next month.
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