Several media sources in the U.K. are reporting a boardroom shake up at De Vere Hotels with Chief Executive Richard Balfour-Lynn and CFO Jay Singh stepping down to “focus on their other business interests,” which include the MWB Group, owners of the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin chains.
Executive chairman Andrew Coppel is taking over Balfour-Lynn’s responsibilities and group finance director Gareth Caldecott will assume overall charge of the group’s finances. Bruce Cave, currently chief operations officer, will become group development director.
Balfour-Lynn created the De Vere Group in 2005 through the acquisition of Initial Style Conferences and expanded the business further through the takeover of De Vere Hotels six months later. The current portfolio includes the Mottram Hall Hotel, Cheshire, the Daresbury Park in Warrington and Whites in Bolton, as well as the Village chain.