Giles Thorley may quit Punch

Punch Taverns chief executive Giles Thorley has said he may quit the pub giant within 18 months.

Thorley, who took over the 9,500-strong leased and managed group in January 2003, said he didn’t build his career on having to do a set number of deals in a set number of years.

Asked by the Publican how long he planned to stay at the helm of Punch, he said: “Not forever, 12 to 18 months maybe.”

Thorley, a qualified barrister, first joined the group as executive chairman in December 2001.

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By Tom Bill

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