Dempsey joins Whitbread board
Patrick Dempsey, managing director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, has joined the company board as an executive director.
He takes up the appointment on January 1, 2009.
Mr Dempsey, 49, joined the company in 2004 and took over the running of the company's budget hotel chain, Premier Inns the following year.
During his period in charge, the chain has added 10,000 rooms and undergone a major re-branding.
Before joining Whitbread, Mr Dempsey spent 20 years with Forte.