Swallow hotel group has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of insolvency - after Scottish hotelier Paddy Crerar bought the name from administrator Ernst & Young, writes Paul Rogerson. The Swallow brand will continue to be used for the 26 properties which Crerar Hotels took over in the wake of last September's collapse of the London and Edinburgh Swallow Group, which had been one of the UK's biggest private hotel and pub businesses.

The deal marks another personal coup for Crerar. It is less than two years since he sold the bulk of the 24-strong North British provincial chain to London and Edinburgh Swallow.

Crerar, above, who is based in Edinburgh, also announced yesterday that he has restructured and expanded the board of his business, which now comprises 33 hotels, more than 2500 rooms and about 1600 staff. John Wilson, formerly group operations director, has been promoted to managing director. He will take responsibility for the management of Crerar Hotels, Crerar Management, and the Easybreaks call centre and website.

Crerar himself will remain chief executive, responsible for hotel acquisition and disposal, development of management contracts and management of the property portfolio.

Sector veteran Peter Bech, who has held senior roles with Grand Metropolitan Hotels and Whitbread Hotel Company, has been appointed as operations director and also joins the board. In May, Russell Hynd will join as chief financial officer. Hynd was formerly finance and operations director at Scottish leisure business Corsie Group. Previous roles have included a spell as finance director of ill-fated engineering services company Semple Cochrane.

Nigel Dearnley remains group finance director and company secretary, focusing on strategic financial planning and acquisitions.