Toby Smith steps down as CEO of Stonegate: Stonegate Pub Company has announced today that chief executive Toby Smith has informed the board of his intention to leave the Company as soon as a suitable successor can be appointed. Toby joined Stonegate in June 2011 following the acquisition of the Town and City Pub Company which he had led since 2008. He has been instrumental in growing Stonegate into the UK’s largest and most profitable privately owned managed pub company. Ian Payne, chairman of Stonegate, said: “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Toby for the massive contribution that he has made towards the success of Stonegate, and on a personal basis thank him for his friendship over the eight years that we have worked together.” Manjit Dale, Founding Partner at TDR Capital, said: “On behalf of the whole team at TDR we would like to thank Toby for his dedication, commitment and drive in building Stonegate into the fantastic business that it is today.” Toby Smith said: “I am hugely proud of what we have achieved at Stonegate with a fantastic and committed team and I am looking forward to pursuing new challenges over the coming months. I would like to thank everyone at both Stonegate and TDR and wish them all well for the future.”

Inventive Leisure changes name to New Inventive Bar Company: Inventive Leisure has changed its name to ‘The New Inventive Bar Company’. The new name “better reflects the high end transformation of its bars, a wider range of trading hours, extensive new drinks offering - supported by a new food menu and service standards”. The business has re-organised its 71 bars into three operating companies as follows: Revolution Bars Limited, Revolución De Cuba Limited and Nightjar Bars limited. Nightjar Bars will operate 11 Revolution Bars which will be de-branded over time and operate under a local non-branded format. Carl Anderson has joined the Group as Operations Director to run the Nightjar business. Anderson was previously with the Rank Group Luminar and Yellowhammer. Mark McQuater, chief executive of The New Inventive Bar Company, said: “The Group is committed to growth and the re-organisation of our bars under operating companies will allow us to continue our strategic growth plans at pace across the business.”