GI shakes up Yates Group boardroom

Yates Group has made three major appointments as part of a boardroom re-organisation. Colin Rawlinson, who acted as a consultant to GI Partners when it took Yates private during the summer, is the new chief financial officer. Steven Fowler, formerly finance director, has been made redundant. Ed Aspel, who worked with Yates chief executive Mark Jones at Pizza Hut, joins the business as sales director. Marketing manager Ian Webb has been made redundant. Yates has also appointed Kevin Allcock to the new position of operations excellence director responsible for pub back office systems and procedures.

Redundancies at Eldridge Pope

West Country pub operator Eldridge Pope, now owned privately by entrepreneur Michael Cannon, has made a third of its head-office staff redundant. A total of 17 people out of 52 will lose their jobs. Meanwhile, the company has launched a £14m capital investment programme in its pub estate.

Ivell's two-day week nets £100,000pa

Regent Inns' new executive chairman Bob Ivell is being paid £100,000 a year for a two-day week, shareholders have been told in a circular. Ivell, who was formerly managing director of S&N Retail, is being paid a further £1,000-a-day for any additional work.

Mitchell's snaps up Cumbrian inn

Mitchell's of Lancaster, the independent family-owned pub company, with 65 pubs and hotels in north Lancashire and Cumbria, has bought the Lindale Inn, in the picturesque village of Lindale in Cumbria. Managing director Dermot McCarthy said: "The purchase of Lindale Inn continues our company's policy of strategic acquisition in North Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, and further strengthens our managed estate."

Thwaites passes 100,000-barrels mark

Daniel Thwaites' free trade operation is raising an extra special pint in celebration after reaching a significant landmark. More than 100,000 barrels of all draught products have been sold in one year for the first time in the northern brewery's history. "This is a real achievement and demonstrates just how much Thwaites has grown, " said free trade sales manager John Cotton.