Punch Taverns, the UK’s leading pub company with over 9,500 leased, tenanted and managed pubs nationwide, announces the following management changes at Spirit Group:

Tony Campbell, Spirit Group Chairman, has decided to leave the business. 

Karen Jones, Chief Executive, has also decided to step down and is moving on to explore other interests.  Karen has been with Spirit since its creation during which time, under her leadership, her team has developed the business into the successful managed pub company that it is today.

Andrew Knight has been appointed Managing Director of the Spirit business, with immediate effect.  Previously Commercial Director for Spirit, Andrew has been with the business since its inception in 1999 and as such, he is well known both to Punch and its management team.  Andrew joins the Punch Executive team and will report into Giles Thorley.

The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank both Karen and Tony for their tremendous contribution to the Spirit business.  They have done an excellent job and the Board wishes both of them well in their future endeavours.

Giles Thorley, Chief Executive of Punch Taverns, commented:

“The vibrant culture which Punch has inherited at Spirit Group is testament to the leadership of Karen and her team and I know that she is very proud of the passion and commitment that is apparent at all levels of the business.  Andrew Knight shares that legacy and I have every confidence that he, together with the rest of his team, will continue the success of both Spirit’s people and its pubs within the enlarged business.”

9 January 2006

Punch Taverns plc	Tel: 020 7868 8903
Giles Thorley, Chief Executive
Robert McDonald, Finance Director