Bevan Brittan has overhauled its management structure as chief executive Stuart Whitfield (pictured) takes on the newly-created role of senior partner with Andrew Manning stepping up to become CEO.

The changes, which were announced last week (20 August) will see Manning, Bevan Brittan's former chief operating officer, become responsible for both the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the firm in his new role as CEO.

He will split his time between the firms' three offices in Bristol, London and Birmingham.

Manning said: "We must deliver services to a high standard and in a profitable way that meets our clients' needs. My job is to ensure we support and encourage each member of the Bevan Brittan team to achieve this and to achieve their individual and combined objectives."

The post of chief operating officer has now been scrapped.

Meanwhile, Whitfield has taken on the newly-created post of senior partner in a move that will see him take on an outward-facing, ambassadorial role for the firm. He has also taken on fee earning responsibilities in the commercial team.

The changes, which were reported in Legal Week last month, have also seen a change in the firm's corporate governance structure after reducing the firm's two management boards to one.

The 11-member board includes Manning, the finance, HR and commercial development directors, a non-executive director and three partners appointed by Manning - Julian Hoskins, David Widdowson and Adam Kendall, from the Bristol, London and Birmingham offices respectively.

In addition, a partner from each office will join the board following a partnership vote in September.

The changes, which follow a strategic review undertaken by Manning and commercial development director Sally Calverley last year, come as the firm aims to bolster profits.

Net profits at the firm dropped by 36.5% from £9.6m to £6.1m in 2007-08. The firm aims to increase profit next year to £8.5m. Profits per equity partner dropped to £184,000 from last year's figure of £234,000, even though the number of equity partners dropped from 41 to 33.

In May the firm announced a redundancy consultation which affected six fee earners and 24 support staff. The number was less than the original 40 that were expected to be cut.