Whitbread finance chief moves to De Vere

Whitbread corporate finance director Matthew Fearn is leaving the pubs and leisure group to join hotel operator De Vere.

Mr Fearn will take up his new role in November. He has held various senior finance posts at Whitbread including a stint as finance director of David Lloyd Leisure. He succeeds Roger Stubbs, who joined De Vere in 1979.

De Vere chairman Peter Daresbury said: "We are delighted that Matthew Fearn is joining De Vere at such a key stage in its progression. I am sure Matthew's significant sector and financial experience will prove invaluable in helping to deliver on our strategic objectives."

Mr Fearn said: "I am thrilled to be joining De Vere, a company with strong brands and exciting growth opportunities. I very much look forward to workingwith the Board and management team to achieve its ambitions."

De Vere was formed from the former Greenalls group in 2000, in the wake of the sale of the Greenalls' pubs and restaurants arms to Scottish & Newcastle retail the previous year.