Simon Dodd, the former chief operating officer of Orchid Pub Company, is to join Fuller’s as operations director for its Premium City division, reporting into Fuller’s Inns managing director Jonathon Swaine.
Dodd, who replaces Loungers-bound Justin Carter, was a founding director of Orchid and was initially its commercial and people director at Orchid. He will start his new role on 5 January.
He began his career on the graduate scheme at Scottish and Newcastle Retail in 1997, before progressing into marketing roles at Ladbrokes, and Bass Leisure Retail.
Swaine told M&C Report: “As well as a strategic perspective, Simon brings a people-centred approach, which was a key area of focus at Orchid where his team collected HR awards from Investors in People and The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.”
Carter will join Loungers as its new chief operating officer, with the group’s current chief operating officer Nick Collins set to step up to work more closely with Loungers managing director Alex Reilley. His appointment is another key step in the company’s succession planning.
Carter, who is leaving Fuller’s on amicable terms, previously founded the Elbow Room chain, which he ran for 13 years before selling it in 2008. He joined Fuller’s in February 2011 and has been a key factor in the development and improved performance of the group’s managed division over the last three years.
