Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie has been elected chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

The decision was made at the BBPA's annual general meeting.

Mackenzie previously served as vice-chair of the organisation and now replaces St Austell Brewery chief executive Kevin Georgel as BBPA chairman.

He joined Greene King in May 2019, having started his career in pubs at Bass and Allied. He also worked for Merlin Entertainments and was managing director at Midway Attractions, which owns brands such as Madame Tussauds and Legoland.

Mackenzie said: "It is a real honour to take on the position as Chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association, which will give me the opportunity to extol the virtues and the value of an industry that I am so passionate about.

"This industry has a huge role to play in creating jobs, growing the economy and bringing people together in communities across the country. And, despite the challenges our industry faces, I see a very successful future for beer and pubs and I am looking forward working with the BBPA to help shape the long-term future for the sector."

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, added: "I would like to pay tribute to our outgoing chairman Kevin Georgel for his eight years of service on the board of the BBPA, and especially for his work in the last two years as our chairman. He has provided invaluable support to the BBPA's work in that time, all while taking St Austell Brewery to new heights of success at the same time."

Georgel commented: "I'm delighted that Nick Mackenzie has agreed to be my successor, taking the association into its next chapter as the new chairman. I'm confident he will receive the full support and endorsement of our members, as one of our industry's biggest champions, and wish him all the best in his new role."