Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie is to stand down, with the pub company and brewer appointing chief digital and commercial officer Clair Preston-Beer as his successor.
Machenzie would stand down at the end of February 2027 as part of a “planned leadership transition”, Greene King said.
He will remain on the board to support transition before Preston-Beer formally takes over in March 2027.
Mackenzie would leave having overseen a “significant period of transformation” since joining as CEO in 2019, said Greene King.
During his tenure, he led the brewery through its £2.7bn acquisition by CK Asset Holdings in 2019, while also undertaking a far-reaching operational, cultural and strategic overhaul, including a digital transformation programme and the development of a new brewery in Bury St Edmunds.
Gerald Ma, executive committee member at CK Asset Holdings, said: “Nick has not only driven significant operational, cultural and strategic change within our business, but has been relentless in his backing of pubs, collaborating with government and trade bodies to successfully deliver positive impact for the sector.”
Mackenzie added: “It has been the privilege of my career to lead Greene King for nearly eight years. This is a very special company, with very special people who care deeply about their teams, customers and the communities they serve up and down the country.
“I am delighted that Clair will be taking the reins and having worked closely with her for the last six years, I know she shares my passion for the industry and is an exceptionally qualified successor to take Greene King forward.”
Currently Greene King’s chief digital and commercial officer, Preston-Beer is set to become the brewer’s first female CEO in its 227-year history.
She joined Greene King in 2020 from Whitbread, initially serving as MD of Greene King’s pubs division, before being appointed chief operating officer in 2024.
She was appointed chief digital and commercial officer earlier this year.
Preston-Beer said: “I’m honoured to be appointed as CEO of Greene King. I love our pubs, I love our people and I am passionate about ensuring they remain the ultimate social host for generations to come. I am inspired by the energy of our 38,000 team members who drive this 227-year-old business forward.
“We have an ambitious strategy in place that is focused on growing share in a challenging environment. We will continue to strengthen our core brands and ensure our digital services become central to the everyday experience of our valued customers.
“We have prioritised investment in data and AI to ensure that every pub is easier for our teams to run, every customer experience more personal and every decision better informed. There is so much to be excited about for the future of this historic pub company and brewer.”
Ma added: “We have identified a proven and dedicated leader in Clair Preston-Beer. Clair has a fundamental understanding of our business and has played a significant role in shaping Greene King’s progress in her leadership roles to-date. Greene King is in a strong position, and we are looking forward to the future under Clair’s leadership.”
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