Insider Media Limited

Enterprise Inns, the Solihull-based pubco, has announced that its chief financial officer, David George, will retire after nearly 20 years in the role. He will be succeeded by Neil Smith.

George will step down as a director at the conclusion of the company's Annual General Meeting on 20 January next year.

Smith will join the company on 3 January as chief financial officer designate and will be appointed to the board as George leaves the company.

Smith is a qualified chartered accountant and currently holds the post of finance director of Compass Group UK & Ireland, which he joined in 2007. Prior to this he held senior finance positions with NTL, Telewest Global and Somerfield.

Hubert Reid, chairman of Enterprise Inns, said: "David has played a key role and has been central to the growth of Enterprise Inns since he joined the company at its formation in 1991. As a result of the successful refinancing of our bank facilities in May, we have secured our medium-term financing requirements and it is now an opportune time for a successor to be appointed. The board would like to thank him for his outstanding contribution and wish him all the best for the future.

"I am delighted that Neil has agreed to join Enterprise. We are pleased to have been able to attract an individual of Neil's calibre to the board and his many years of finance experience within consumer facing businesses will prove invaluable to the company. We very much look forward to working with him and to welcoming him to our board."