Hall & Woodhouse, the leading independent family-owned Dorset brewer and Pub Company has announced the appointment of Matt Kearsey as Managing Director.
After ten years in the business, Matt succeeds Anthony Woodhouse to the role, who takes up the position of Chairman.
On the subject of his promotion, Matt said: “I am both humbled and excited to be appointed to the role of Managing Director at Hall & Woodhouse. The business has an incredible history, with a dedicated and talented team who are passionate about protecting the company’s legacy and delivering our ambitious plans for the future. I’m looking forward to supporting the team on the next stage of our journey as we build to our 250th birthday in 2027.”
Hall & Woodhouse Chairman, Anthony Woodhouse, commented: “Matt Kearsey joined us ten years ago and quickly turned around our tenanted pub division, evolving it into the market-leading Business Partnerships estate we have today. He has subsequently further enhanced our Managed House business which, consequently, has seen a rapid growth in sales and profits. But most importantly, he and his leadership team live and breathe our company values.
“With underlying group profits up 17 per cent despite last year’s challenging trading conditions, a brilliant team in place and a clear strategy for the future, I am confident that we will have plenty to celebrate at our 250th birthday in 2027.”
Matt, who lives near Dorchester, worked for Marks & Spencer prior to moving into the brewery and pub industry at Scottish Newcastle and Greene King. His career path through an internal ‘leadership evolution’ programme is testament to Hall & Woodhouse’s commitment to nurturing and developing talent. In 2017, Hall & Woodhouse sent Matt to the USA to complete the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School – an immersive, transformative course to guide senior leaders in honing their leadership capabilities.
Matt added: “The Board of Directors suggested that I attend Harvard Business School, which was an amazing, invaluable experience. It challenged me to think in a different way about how we grow and develop the company and get the very best out of our business relationships.”
Hall & Woodhouse has a strong values led culture – a factor which Matt believes is at the core of the company’s success and one which is embraced by all of the team. Consequently, its culture is something which Matt is keen to protect and grow.
Matt said: “The leadership team at Hall & Woodhouse see ourselves as custodians, our job is to build on our history and legacy and pass on the business to future generations of team members, guests and shareholders. Being an independent family business means we are free to shape our strategy around long-term benefits rather than quick profit wins. As we’ve been around for 242 years and never been in better shape, this is clearly an approach which benefits the company, our team and the community.”
Matt’s appointment coincides with the retirement of long-serving Hall & Woodhouse Directors, David Hoare and Martin Scott, while Mark Woodhouse is stepping down as Chairman and taking up a new role as Family Director.