SABMiller plc announced today that André Parker, Managing Director of SABMiller Africa and Asia, and Norman Adami, President and CEO SABMiller Americas, will both be retiring from the company in the coming months.
SABMiller Africa and Asia
André Parker will be retiring at the end of September 2007 after 32 years of service. Under André’s leadership the Africa and Asia region has grown substantially with EBITA, turnover and volumes up almost four-fold over a period of eight years. In fiscal 07 the region accounted for some 30% of group lager volumes and some 14% of sales revenue.
In recognition of the current scale and future growth potential of the group’s Africa and Asia interests, from 1 October 2007 the region will be split into two management units.
Ari Mervis is appointed Managing Director SABMiller Asia and Mark Bowman will take up the role of Managing Director SABMiller Africa. Reporting directly to Graham Mackay, SABMiller Chief Executive, Ari and Mark will join the SABMiller plc Executive Committee (Excom), effective 1 October 2007.
Currently Managing Director Australia, Ari Mervis was responsible for building SABMiller’s successful Russian business and has most recently established the company’s presence in Australia. Ari will head up a relatively small Asia hub office, located in Hong Kong, which will support SABMiller’s partnerships in China, Australia and Vietnam and the wholly owned Indian business, and continue to grow SABMiller’s interests in the region.
Mark Bowman, currently Managing Director Kompania Piwowarska in Poland, has significant experience of both the beer and soft drinks businesses, having previously been Managing Director of the company’s South African bottling operation ABI. The Africa hub office will remain in Johannesburg, and will focus on further developing SABMiller’s beer and soft drinks operations on the African continent (outside of South Africa).
Commenting on the management changes, Graham Mackay, Chief Executive, said:
“André Parker has made an outstanding contribution to SABMiller, establishing a leadership position for the company in both China and India while maintaining strong growth in the Africa region. I wish André and his wife Linda a long and happy retirement.
“I am confident that Ari and Mark, both experienced SABMiller managers, will continue to build our businesses in Asia and Africa and deliver further value enhancing growth.”
SABMiller Americas
SABMiller plc also announced today that Norman Adami, President and CEO SABMiller Americas, will be retiring from the company.
For some time Norman has expressed a desire to retire and return to South Africa, at an appropriate juncture, due to compelling family circumstances. With the transition of the Miller management team already fully completed and the integration of the Group’s Latin American businesses also well advanced, Norman will retire from full service on 30 November 2007.
Norman has served the business for 25 years and has been a member of the SABMiller Executive Committee for 13 years. He successfully managed SAB Ltd as Managing Director for 9 years and more recently led the Miller Brewing Company as President and CEO from 2003 to 2006, completing the business turnaround and building a sustainable platform for it to compete in the US marketplace. In addition over the last 12 months Norman has overseen the successful integration of Grupo Empresarial Bavaria into the SABMiller group.
Norman was able to make a unique contribution to SABMiller as President and CEO SABMiller Americas due to his experience and knowledge of the US and global beer markets. Norman will not be replaced in this position.
Tom Long, President and CEO of the Miller Brewing Company and Barry Smith, President of SABMiller Latin America, upon Norman’s retirement, will report directly to Graham Mackay, SABMiller Chief Executive, and will continue to serve as members of the SABMiller plc Excom.
Commenting on the announcement, Graham Mackay, Chief Executive, said:
“Norman has made an enduring contribution to the SABMiller Group and we will greatly miss his wisdom, passion and commitment. One of Norman’s legacies is the strong management team that he has built up in the Americas.
“I respect Norman’s decision to move back to South Africa to support his family and we wish them all success and happiness in this new phase of their lives.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
SABMiller plc is one of the world’s largest brewers with brewing interests or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. The group’s brands include premium international beers such as Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an exceptional range of market leading local brands. Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world.
In the year ended 31 March 2007, the group reported US$3,154 million in adjusted pre-tax profit and revenue of $18,620 million. SABMiller plc is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of charge from: www.newscast.co.uk or www.sabmiller.com
Enquiries
SABMiller plc
Tel: +44 20 7659 0100
Sue Clark
Director of Corporate Affairs
Tel: +44 20 7659 0184
Gary Leibowitz
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +44 20 7659 0119
Nigel Fairbrass
Head of Media Relations
Tel: +44 7799 894265
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the "Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to enter into investment activity.
This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements may contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" and words of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which the Company's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield on such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.