SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Co. have filled out the MillerCoors
joint venture leadership team. The JV, a combination of Miller's and Coors' U.S. and Puerto Rican
brewing operations, recently
received clearance from U.S. regulators.
The deal is expected to close by June 30. After that, we should begin to see how the team plans to integrate their respective operations. One of the most critical decisions will be how to handle sales and marketing of their popular competing labels, Miller Lite and Coors Light.
We already know that both companies are assigning senior leadership to the JV. As we previously
reported, Molson Coors chief executive Leo Kiely will be CEO of MillerCoors and Tom Long, CEO of Miller Brewing Co., will be president and chief commercial officer. Molson Coors CFO Tim Wolf (pictured) is leading the integration and will work closely with Kevin Self, newly appointed vice president of integration and synergies, and Scott Whitley, VP of integration planning.
Others on the team include:
- Tom Cardella, Eastern division president
- Ed McBrien, Western division president
- Andy England, chief marketing officer
- Dennis Puffer, chief operations officer
- Karen Ripley, chief legal officer
- Jeanine Wasielewski, head of information technology
- Cornell Boggs, chief responsibility and ethics officer
- Steve Woodward, chief human resources officer
- Chris Kozina, chief of staff
- Nehl Horton, chief communications and government affairs officer
The JV's parents hope they can make a formidable opponent for Anheuser-Busch Cos. (possible
acquisition target of Belgian brewer InBev SA), the dominant domestic beer producer that has almost 50% of the U.S.' market share. As we noted recently, Anheuser's global industry EVP Bob Lachky shared his
thoughts on MillerCoors in a recent interview with Fox Business News. -
Baz HiralalRead on about the MillerCoors leadership teamMerger wave to come post Anheuser-Busch-InBev?
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