Pub giant and brewer Shepherd Neame has confirmed its managing director of pubs is to step down and leave the company this week.

Jonathon Swaine joined the Faversham-based firm in February 2022 having previously been managing director of retail at the Rank Group.

Prior to that, he’d worked for the likes of Bass and Fuller’s.

But his time at the Kent firm will end tomorrow as part of a shift in the firm’s strategy and its decision to reduce the number of managed houses in its portfolio.

Managed pubs are run directly by a brewery - with management and staff employed and the brewer having direct responsibility for them.

Sheps currently operates a total of 288 pubs - 219 or which are tenanted or leased - with just 67 managed.

Tenanted or leased pubs see landlords appointed to run a brewery-owned site but who then operate the pub as their own business.

Mr Swaine will step down from his role and as a director of the company on Thursday.

In a statement, Shepherd Neame said: “In the light of our decision to reduce the number of our managed houses, the company plans to reorganise roles and responsibilities to reflect the composition of its pub estate.

“These roles will report to Jonathan Neame [chief executive], and Mark Rider, [chief finance officer] who will take on added responsibilities.”

Chairman Richard Oldfield added: "The board would like to thank Jonathon for his contribution over the past three years, and for developing our pub business so as to be well positioned for the future. We wish him well in his next endeavour."