Nightclub operator, First Leisure Corporation, has appointed John Smith as its new chief executive.

Smith, formerly finance director, has been acting chief executive since Paul Kinsey departed in January this year.Prior to joining First Leisure in January 2000, Smith was joint managing director of Vision Express UK. Nick Irens, chair of First Leisure, said: 'The board's view is that John's previous experience outside the nightclub industry will bring a fresh strategic approach to the business, and this has already begun to evolve over the past three months.'