LM Funerals appoints new chief executive

WOLVERHAMPTON-based LM Funerals has appointed a former Punch Taverns managing director to be its new chief executive.

Deborah Kemp joins the firm, one of the UK’s largest independent funeral services companies, from De Vere Hotels and Resorts where she was chief operating officer.

At the leisure chain, she held executive responsibility for all aspects of financial and operational delivery of the company’s 13 sites, including the Grand Hotel Brighton and Cameron House Loch Lomond.

Prior to this, she spent over 20 years in pub retailing, most recently as MD of Burton-on-Trent company Punch Taverns, where she was responsible for the company’s estate of 7,500 leased public houses.

Chairman of LM Funerals Stephen Lambert said: “Deborah has significant experience of managing multi-site operations and ensuring a first-rate consumer experience is delivered across those sites, which is exactly what LM Funerals prides itself on.

“We are delighted Deborah is on board and look forward to her leading the company to achieve further growth.”

LM Funerals was acquired by UK buy and build specialist Sovereign Capital in 2003.

Since then the funeral services company has increased the number of sites it operates from 29 to 64 across the Midlands and south of England through opening satellite branches and acquisitions.

It has so far completed four acquisitions and opened nine new satellite branches during 2010.

LM Funerals says it intends to continue expansion plans as independent operators look to retire, or release capital and remain with the business while using the firm’s back office support.