Barracuda, the managed pub company, which is currently undergoing a restructuring, has further strengthened its management team, with the appointment of Rob Pitcher in the newly created role of operations and HR director.
Pitcher joins the c200-strong company after spells in senior marketing, operational and strategic roles within Scottish & Newcastle Retail, Spirit Group and most recently Town and City Pub Company where he was a key member of the senior team prior to its’ merger with Stonegate last year.
In his new role, Pitcher replaces Richard Stringer and Jane Biss, who recently stepped down as operations and HR director respectively.
The Barracuda executive team now comprises Roger Moxham, chief executive; Pitcher, operations and HR director; Chris Keen, finance director and Sarah Weir, commercial director.
It is thought that the restructure of the group’s debt, which is believed to be around £160m, is still progressing.
Moxham, who replaced Mark McQuater earlier this year, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rob to the business. His appointment further strengthens our executive team and his contribution towards the next phase of development for Barracuda as we drive up our performance will be crucial.
“His knowledge and passion for the industry, combined with the importance that he places on motivating and recruiting the best people in the business, will help us deliver a customer driven culture for our pubs and bars.”
Pitcher said: “It’s an exciting time to join Barracuda as we move towards a new phase for the company. It’s a great business with fantastic people running well-located, prominent sites in key towns and cities across the UK. I’m delighted to join the new executive group and look forward to leading the HR and operations teams in executing a new growth strategy for Barracuda.”
