New director for M&B, but it is still without a chief executive

The seemingly relentless turmoil on the board of Mitchells & Butlers continued yesterday when the pubs chain landed another new director.

While the business is still without a chief executive, it has been boosted by the arrival of Edward Irwin, a representative of the racing tycoons JP McManus and John Magnier, who own 24 per cent of M&B. Mr Irwin is the finance director of Coolmore, a bloodstock breeder with operations in Ireland, the US and Australia.

M&B, which owns the chains All Bar One and O'Neill's, has been without a chief executive since Adam Fowle quit a year ago. Since then directors have come and gone apace. The longest-serving board member is the finance director, Tim Jones, who arrived at the end of 2010.