Patrick Dempsey, chief executive of Restaurant Associates, the fine-dining division of contract caterer Compass Group, is to join Scottish group Macdonald Hotels as chief executive on 5 August.
Dempsey, a former managing director of Posthouse Hotels, will take over from founding chief executive Donald Macdonald, who in turn will become executive chairman.
Frank O'Callaghan, who has been nonexecutive chairman of Macdonald since 1990, will remain as a nonexecutive director and will fill the role of deputy chairman.
Dempsey is not being replaced as chief executive at Restaurant Associates. Instead, operations director David Bailey will become managing director of the fine-dining and restaurants division with responsibility for City accounts and the Roux Fine Dining, Leith's and Charters businesses.
Keith Hudspith remains managing director of the hotels and public restaurants business, responsible for Milburns and Somerset House.