Endeavour, the hospitality giant behind a string of pubs and the Dan Murphy’s liquor shop chain, is poised to appoint Ari Mervis as executive chairman more than five months after its chief executive resigned.

Multiple people briefed on the discussions about a successor to Steve Donohue said Mervis, appointed chairman in March, would be named executive chairman on Friday at the same time as the company announced half-year results. Profits are expected to fall 14 per cent to $301 million.