Gavin George is stepping down as chief executive of Laine Pub Company after 27 years with the business.
He will step away from the day-to-day management of the Laine Pub Company, the pub and brewing business he co-founded in 1997 with Peter Bennett.
George will transition into a new role as non-executive director within the wider Punch Pubs & Co business, where he continues to hold a stake as a shareholder.
Russell Danks, who joined Laine's pub arm as managing director last year, will take over the day-to-day management of the business from late September. He will be supported by Martin Entwistle, who oversees Laine's brewing division.
Laine Pub Company currently operates over 50 sites across London, Birmingham, and its heartland of Brighton.
George said: “I have had the most amazing 27 years, leading a wonderfully progressive business with incredible pubs, teams and customers. I’m grateful to everyone who has played a part in Laine’s success and for supporting me through the good times and the challenging.
“I’d particularly like to thank all the managers and staff of the myriad pubs, clubs, bars and breweries we have operated over the years, for their creativity, energy and resilience, more recently in the face of significant challenges such as a pandemic, wars and economic turmoil.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the people of Brighton & Hove - the city of Laine’s birth - whose constancy from day one, and unique outlook on the world have been the inspiration and facilitator for much of what Laine has achieved.”