Anheuser-Busch InBev Executives to Fill Most Lead Roles After Takeover
04 Agosto 2016 - 10:30AM
Dow Jones News
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV executives will dominate leadership
positions after taking over rival brewer SABMiller PLC, filling all
but one position on an expanded executive management board.
Under a new structure announced Thursday, AB InBev said it would
expand its executive management board to 20 people from 17 by
adding geographic zones covering Africa, Australia and
Colombia.
SABMiller executive Mauricio Leyva, currently the managing
director of African subsidiary SAB Ltd., will lead AB InBev's
Middle Americas business from Mexico City and become the only
SABMiller member of the combined brewer's executive management
board.
AB InBev's dominance of leadership positions at the combined
brewer fits its practice of placing its executives in a position to
quickly install the Belgian brewer's goal-oriented, cost-conscious
culture after a takeover. It took a similar approach after buying
Anheuser-Busch Cos. in 2008 and Grupo Modelo in 2013.
The world's largest brewer said it would continue to be
headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and its global management team,
including Chief Executive Carlos Brito and Chief Financial Officer
Felipe Dutra, would continue to be based in New York. It will add
zone headquarters in Johannesburg, Melbourne and Bogotá .
The announcement comes less than a week after SABMiller's board
recommended AB InBev's $100 billion-plus takeover. In September,
both AB InBev and SABMiller shareholders are expected to vote on
the deal, which is expected to close Oct. 10.
Gaining a foothold in the fast-growing African beer market was a
major reason AB InBev pursued its No. 2 rival. The new Africa
business will have operations across 16 African countries, helping
diversify AB InBev's business at a time it is struggling to sell
Bud Light and Budweiser in the U.S., its largest market, and
battling an economic downturn in Brazil.
Brazilian Ricardo Tadeu, the current president of AB InBev's
Mexico business, will lead the African business. He has overseen an
increase in revenue from Mexican operations by 11% last year to
$4.62 billion.
AB InBev said SABMiller's Yokesh Maharaj, director of sales and
distribution at SAB Ltd., will join Mr. Tadeu as the head of the
combined brewer's South Africa business.
The group will be overseen by an African board chaired by Jabu
Mabuza, who is the current chair of Telkom SA and previously served
on the board of Tanzanian Breweries Ltd. and Castle Brewing Co. The
board's structure is being finalized.
AB InBev said it would close SABMiller's regional hubs in Miami,
Hong Kong and Beijing. SABMiller General Counsel John Davidson,
Africa Managing Director Mark Bowman and Human Resources Director
Johann Nel will stay with the new company for at least six
months.
The combined companies will have an estimated 27% share of the
global beer market, more than double No. 2 rival Heineken NV's 11%
share, according to industry tracker Plato Logic.
Write to Tripp Mickle at Tripp.Mickle@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 04, 2016 09:15 ET (13:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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