Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 27082

Hearn joins Whitbread

Grant Hearn (right), Forte Crest's deputy managing director and executive director for the London region, is to join Whitbread's Country Club Hotel Group (CCH) as operations director.

The loss of Mr Hearn is said to have been keenly felt by chairman Sir Rocco Forte, who, according to industry sources, made strenuous efforts to persuade him to stay.

But Mr Hearn, 36, whose father Dennis and cousin Alan both recently retired as main board directors of Forte, has clearly been attracted by the prospect of joining CCH at a time when expansion is being stepped up.

"I'm really excited about this move," he told Caterer. "It's the right time for me to move on." His specific role will be to oversee the group's 12 resort properties and 18 former Lansbury Hotels.