De Vere appointments

Matthew Fearn has been appointed as group finance director for De Vere Group, succeeding Roger Stubbs who is retiring after six years in the position and a total of 26 years with the group. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Fearn has held senior finance roles with Whitbread, most recently as corporate finance director, and previously finance director at David Lloyd Leisure.

Hotel and leisure club operator De Vere is currently expanding its operations. Projects include the opening of the Village Bournemouth in December of this year and the Village Hull in February 2006.

It is also developing and refurbishing its existing hotels and will have spent a total of £80m on the openings and upgrades by the end of 2006.