William Lees-Jones is Managing Director of JW Lees, a seventh-generation family business which employs just over 1,500 people, 150 at the brewery and site in Middleton Junction in North Manchester and 1,350 in its 45 managed pubs and hotels, as well as letting a further 93 pubs to self-employed Pub Partners.
JW Lees consistently outperforms its peer group of brewers and pub operating companies, including coming first in the sector ‘2025 Tenant Track’ survey which benchmarks the UK pub sector, as well as regularly featuring in awards including the Private Business of the Year 2026, FTSE High Growth 50 and in 2025 William was recognised by his peers as the Publican Awards Industry Leader of the Year.
William was educated at Rugby School and London University where he gained a BA (Hons) in Classics before joining advertising agency Crosland Gallop in 1987 as an Account Executive. He moved to Maslin Rees Fitton as an Account Director in 1990 and became Client Services Director in 1993. William then joined family business JW Lees in 1994 where he was appointed Sales & Marketing Director in 1996. He became Joint Managing Director in 2000 and Group Managing Director in 2003.
William is Chairman of the Oldham Towns Fund, a director of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain, President of Middleton Cricket Club, trustee of the Onside Foundation, former Chairman of the Manchester Grammar School Trust, former President of Forever Manchester, former Chairman of Oldham Youth Zone, former Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization, former Vice Chair of the British Beer and Pubs Association, an Advisory Board Member of The Juice Academy and was the 2012-13 High Sheriff of Cheshire.
William is married to Ariel and they live in sunny Cheshire with their four children, Louis, Athena, Bianca and Xander aged from 21 to 29. William is a keen sportsman and likes to ski, cycle and play tennis as well as playing the electric guitar badly. He is also a Manchester United season ticket holder (which is going much better).
