ON THE BOARD

PUB chain Marston’s has hired Lazard boss William Rucker as chairman. Rucker has headed up the New York investment bank’s UK division as chief executive since 2004, after joining the firm in 1987. He will join Marston’s, which has 1,568 pubs across the country and is the world’s largest brewer of cask ales, next month.

The firm swung to a £13.4m loss in the 26 weeks to March 31 compared with a £36.7m profit a year earlier.

Revenues increased 20pc to £528.1m.