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Jonathan Lawson has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Liberation Group. He joins the business on Monday 14 January 2019 from Vision Express, part of GrandVision, where he has served as CEO since 2011.
Succeeding Mark Crowther who has been with the company for 11 years, Mr Lawson brings over 20 years' experience in the leisure and retail sectors, including four years as Managing Director for Greene King’s Local Pubs Division. Prior to this he held senior positions at Sainsbury’s and began his career on the Marks & Spencer Graduate Trainee scheme.
Following its acquisition by Caledonia Investments in 2016, Liberation Group has been focused on delivering on its growth plan through a combination of targeted capital expenditure within the pub estate and acquisitions of both individual pubs and pub groups in the south of England. Mr Crowther has been a key contributor to this strategy, helping shape the business into the company that it is today – including acquiring Butcombe Brewery and driving the group’s expansion in the West Country.
Richard Grainger, Executive Chairman of the Liberation Group, said: “The Liberation Group now consists of two breweries, three distribution businesses and 116 pubs across the Channel Islands and the West Country. Mark Crowther has contributed significantly to the success of the business and I want to extend the thanks of the board and staff to him. Jonathan’s wide-ranging executive experience across the leisure sector will enable him to drive the business onward and fulfil the board’s expectations for the group. We very much look forward to welcoming him into the business.”
Mr Lawson said: “It’s a great pleasure to be returning to the pub sector and I am hugely excited to join the Liberation Group. The team has built an excellent business and I am looking forward to meeting the people, our customers and to fully immersing myself in the company. This is a great organisation with clear opportunities ahead of it and I am delighted to be leading it through the next period of its growth.”
Pictured: Jonathan Lawson.
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