Gerard Winder, business development manager in Brakspear’s tenanted & leased estate, is to join Hook Norton Brewery as its operations manager next year.

Winder will take responsibility for the business’s 36 tenanted and two managed pubs when he joins the north-west Oxfordshire-based brewery in January.

Winder, who has worked in his current Brakspear role for six years, currently looks after a number of pubs in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire heartlands.

“Gerard has been a real asset to our business and we’re sorry to lose him, but wish him well in his more senior role at Hook Norton, which is very well deserved,” Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said.

“He leaves a diverse group of great pubs, run by talented tenants who have all benefited from his help and guidance over the years, and we hope to find another BDM who can offer the same support. Gerard helped tenants to build thriving pub businesses with us and we’re grateful for his contribution to the success of Brakspear over the past six years.”

Hook Norton managing director James Clarke added: “We’re delighted that Gerard is joining us. He has done a great job at Brakspear and brings valuable experience and skills and a fresh approach both to the operations manager role and to our business. I’m particularly looking forward to working alongside him on the senior management team.”