A management team to drive the business forward

Caren is the Central Operations Director, where she leads the company’s core operational support functions, including recruitment, training, and marketing. With three decades of experience in the pub industry, Caren has held senior roles across both Leased & Tenanted and Managed Operations. Before stepping into her current position, she served as a Regional Operations Director at Star Pubs, bringing deep operational insight and a strong track record of supporting pub businesses to thrive.

Cathy leads our marketing and digital functions, supporting 2,350 licensees in driving sales and strengthening customer engagement. She brings deep expertise in digital strategy, customer experience and commercial marketing. Before joining Star Pubs, Cathy served as HEINEKEN’s Business‑to‑Business Digital Commerce Manager, heading a team of e‑commerce specialists. She previously worked as a Senior Category Development Manager on the Tesco account, giving her extensive experience across marketing, digital and customer support disciplines.

Chris has worked in the pub industry for more than 30 years, beginning his career with Scottish & Newcastle in 1992. A qualified Chartered Surveyor, he has held senior roles across both property and operations in managed and leased pub models. Since joining HEINEKEN in 2009, Chris has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s pub strategy, influencing its £600m investment and its return to a vertically integrated brewing and retail business. He also led the repositioning and rebranding of the pub estate. As Property Director, Chris is focused on enhancing and expanding the Star Pubs business while supporting licensees to build sustainable, long‑term success.

Josh joined Star Pubs in 2023 after nearly a decade at the British Beer and Pub Association, where he gained deep insight into the wide‑ranging issues facing licensees. His career also includes roles in campaigns and public affairs, including at Which?, where he worked on fairer energy market initiatives, and in the House of Commons supporting three Members of Parliament. He holds a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading. As Head of Corporate Affairs, Josh leads Star Pubs’ internal and external communications, including engagement with Government and other key stakeholders.

Lawson began his career in 1990 as a graduate trainee with Grand Met Brewing before progressing through a series of commercial roles at Scottish Courage and Scottish & Newcastle. His career with HEINEKEN has included senior positions such as Sales Managing Director Courage East, Sales Managing Director National Sales, and most recently Managing Director, On Trade. In 2016, following the decision to appoint a dedicated leader for Star Pubs, Lawson stepped into the role. He has since overseen major strategic developments, including leading the multi‑million‑pound acquisition and integration of nearly 1,900 Punch pubs into the estate.

Lynne began her career in the industry as a graduate in 2001. A Chartered Surveyor with a Masters in Commercial Property Law, she has held a range of roles across licensed and corporate estates, including contributing to the integration of the 1,900 Punch pubs into the Star estate. After spending several years as a university lecturer, she brings additional skills and perspectives from the education sector. As Code Compliance Officer, Lynne oversees the operation of the Pubs Code across Star, drawing on both her property expertise and her broader professional experience to ensure fair and effective compliance.

Mick began his career in pubs while studying Literature at the University of Sheffield. After eight years managing pubs, he progressed into operational leadership roles, working as an Area Manager, Business Development Manager and later a Regional Operations Director. He joined HEINEKEN in 2011 as Operations & Sales Director for the South and subsequently played a key role in the acquisition of 1,900 pubs. Since 2018, Mick has served as Operations Director for the North, overseeing five regions and over 1,000 pubs from Manchester to Stornoway. Since 2022, he has also been the operational lead for Just Add Talent, Star’s managed operator model.

Giulia is a Chartered Member of the CIPD with extensive experience in senior HR generalist and change roles across the FMCG and drinks industries. Originally from Australia, she holds a degree in HR and Psychology. After moving to London in 2020, Giulia joined HEINEKEN UK in 2023 as Head of People for Star Pubs and Support Functions. Throughout her career, she has led major people and change initiatives, including M&A activity and digital transformation programmes. In her current role, she shapes and influences the people strategy for Star Pubs, driven by a strong passion for culture, change and colleague engagement.

Ruth joined HEINEKEN in 2013 and has worked across both the UK and Amsterdam. Prior to this, she practised as a lawyer at a UK corporate boutique firm. A specialist in corporate and competition law, Ruth became part of the Star management team in 2018 following her involvement in the multi‑million‑pound acquisition and integration of nearly 1,900 Punch pubs into the estate.

Sean qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young before moving to HEINEKEN during the Scottish & Newcastle acquisition in 2008. He has since held a range of senior finance roles and is also a fully qualified member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers, having spent four years in Amsterdam as European Treasurer. He returned to the UK to lead the Punch integration and, after delivering several other strategic projects, joined Star as Finance Director in 2019.

Tim began his career in logistics, managing several distribution centres before moving into sales with Scottish Courage. Over more than 30 years in the industry with Scottish & Newcastle and HEINEKEN UK, he has held a wide range of senior On Trade sales roles. He joined the Star Pubs Leadership Team in 2018 as Operations Director following the acquisition of the Punch business. Tim now leads operations across the South of the UK, overseeing six regions and 1,200 pubs.