UK: AG Barr chairman to step down

The chairman of AG Barr has confirmed his intention to stand down later this year.

The soft drinks company, which owns the Irn-Bru CSD brand, said yesterday (16 march) that Robin Barr, 71, plans to step down from the position at Barr's AGM in May.

Robin Barr, the last surviving boardroom member of the company's founding family, has held the post for 31 years and has been a director of AG Barr for 44 years. He will remain on the board after he has stood down, but in a non-executive role.

Ronnie Hanna, who has served as a non-executive director on the company's board for the last five years, will become non-executive chairman in May. Hanna, aged 66, is also the chairman of Bowleven, the AIM-listed oil and gas exploration company, and is chairman of Glasgow Income Trust.

"Now is the right time for me to step down as chairman," said Robin Barr. "The business is in excellent shape with a strong and stable executive team. I have great confidence in handing over to Ronnie Hanna who will provide the leadership, experience and drive to maintain the positive momentum in the business despite the current difficult economic times."

At the same time, the firm announced the appointment of Jonathan Warburton as an independent non-executive director. Warburton, aged 51, is the chairman of Warburtons Ltd, the privately-owned branded bakery business.

Earlier this year, AG Barr said that revenue and volumes grew strongly in 2008, outperforming a shrinking market.