Former American Golf and Habitat CEO Kevin Styles becomes UK and Ireland MD.

Cinema chain Vue Entertainment International has appointed former American Golf and Habitat CEO Kevin Styles to the newly created role of managing director UK and Ireland.

Styles will report to Vue CEO Tim Richards, deputy CEO and CFO Alan McNair and COO Steve Knibbs. He will take up his position from July 21, 2014.

According to Vue, the creation of the new position will pave the way for more company growth.

Commenting on the appointment, Tim Richards said: “We are absolutely delighted to have attracted such a talented and experienced leader to our growing team. Kevin’s experience and expertise in retail and marketing will help us to achieve our ambition to be the UK’s best and most highly respected cinema brand. This appointment also marks the next stage of our growth as a European-wide company with managing directors now in each of our three major territories – UK, Germany and Poland”.

Vue operates 1,368 screens across 151 multiplex cinemas in nine territories comprising the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Taiwan.

The outfit’s UK business currently comprises 83 multiplexes with 790 screens and a net turnover of more than £310m per annum.

Styles was also previously CEO at Best Buy and Trade Depot (Kingfisher Group).