John Jennett, formerly sales and marketing director of the Crieff Hydro hotel in Perthshire, has taken over the role of managing director. It's the first time in the hotel's 140-year history that it has appointed someone from outside the bloodline of the family business to the executive team. He takes over from Stephen Leckie who now assumes the role of chief executive of the £17m company. Jennett's past roles include MD and shareholder with Freedom of the Glen Hotels until the group was sold in 2006.