David Pawson, head of external PR & communications for Punch, is to leave the company following its takeover by Patron Capital/Heineken.
Pawson, who has worked for Punch for 17 years, is the latest senior figure to leave the group. Chief executive Duncan Garrood stepped down immediately after the deal was completed, while marketing director Neil Macgeorge and operations director Giles Kendall have also departed.
Meanwhile, MCA understands that Punch has also trimmed its regional operations director team. It is thought that Philip Lee-Ashby, Steve Burns and John Price are among those who have moved on. Christine Oxford was unveiled this week as the new Tenanted Pubs managing director at Liberation Group.
The group is in the process of searching for a new chief executive, with chief financial officer Steve Dando currently filling the role on an interim basis.
As MCA reported last month, David Wigham has moved into the role of sales and marketing director after Macgeorge’s departure. Paul Pavli’s role as managing director of the leased and tenanted divisions has remained unchanged by the restructure.
