LGV Capital, the private equity arm of Legal & General has lined up pub industry veteran Mark Crowther to run the CI Traders’ up-for-sale pub division, M&C Report understands.
The former London Town and Carlsberg UK executive will take charge of the Jersey-based business should LGV be successful in its effort to buy the business.
The group, which has been dubbed Sandpiper CI for the purposes of the sale, comprises 42 pubs in Jersey, 21 in Guernsey and two in Alderney, along with two drinks distribution businesses and a brewery.
McQueen, the London-based corporate adviser, is handling the sale process.
LGV is one of a clutch of final-round bidders for the business, which was put up for sale following the purchase of CI Traders by Duke Street Capital last year.
Crowther left London Town in December, having taken the chief executive role in March, 2007. Prior to that he was on-trade sales director at Carlsberg UK and is also ex-managing director of Pauleys, a division of Brakes Foodservice.
He started his career with Allied Domecq and went on to establish the Front Room chain of bars in London.
Following the sale, CI Traders intends to focus on its retail operations, which include a Marks & Spencer franchise and Wine Warehouse branded stores.
