David McDowall has left G1 Group to become managing director of BrewDog Bars, M&C Report understands.
McDowall - as group operations director - ran the £60m-a-year turnover managed house division of Glasgow-based G1, described as “an eclectic mix of venues from cinemas and clubs to restaurants and large hybrid venues”, and which included the award-winning Corinthian Club.
But after six years with G1, he has left the business to assume general management of BrewDog’s fast growing estate of bars, which currently stands at 26 outlets.
It is believed McDowall is also following BrewDog founder James Watts on to the Cicerone beer expertise certification programme.
The group’s bars division was previously overseen by former senior executive at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) Caroline Morris as operations director. But she left the role after only a few months in 2013.
BrewDog recently launched its Helsinki bar - its 12th outlet this year. This year BrewDog has also opened bars in São Paulo, Tokyo, Sheffield, Gothenburg, Dundee, Florence, Cardiff, Ellon, Clapham Junction, Liverpool and Bologna
BrewDog is set to expand its international division further with a new Barcelona bar opening shortly, and plans for a Berlin bar early next year.
It recently rolled out table service to all its UK bars and announced new bar snacks and an initiative for designated drivers.
The upcoming BrewDog bar opening in Islington will be called Dog Eat Dog, a new concept focused on hotdogs and craft beer.
The company is also set to open Brighton and a second, bigger site in Leeds.
The Scottish company said it is waiting on planning permission for its new Glasgow Merchant City site, which is taking “longer than we hoped”, with plans to open in early 2015.
