Young’s CEO Patrick Dardis to step down

Pub chain Young’s said on Wednesday that chief executive officer Patrick Dardis will be stepping down at the annual meeting on 5 July after 20 years at the company.

He will be succeeded by chief operating officer Simon Dodd, who was recruited three years ago with succession planning in mind. Dardis will remain on the board and stay on to oversee the transition until he retires at the end of September, Young’s said.

The company said Dodd has "a wealth of experience", having spent more than a decade working in the pub and brewing sector. Prior to joining Young’s, he was on the board of Fuller, Smith & Turner and before that, with Orchid Pub Company. He has also held a number of brand and marketing roles in the hospitality sector.

Dardis said: "Now is the right time to hand over the reins to Simon and the rest of the team at Young’s. I leave behind a great business, in good shape with a very talented team.

"It has been a privilege to lead a business with so many fantastic people in it and I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their support and contribution over the last 20 years."