FRANCE: Carlsberg changes Kronenbourg head - again

Carlsberg has announced another change of leadership at its recently-acquired Brasseries Kronenbourg operations in France.

The brewer, which took control of Kronenbourg in the country when it bought Scottish & Newcastle with Heineken earlier this year, said today (26 August) that Thomas Amstutz, CEO of Carlsberg's Feldschlösschen subsidiary in Switzerland has been appointed the new CEO of the French operations.

Amstutz replaces Tim Seager, who became Kronenbourg's CEO in December last year. The change marks the third change at the top at Kronenbourg in less than three years. Seager replaced Yves Couette, who had held the hot seat for only 13 months.

Thomas Metzger, currently CFO at Feldschlösschen, will replace Amstutz in Switzerland, with Amstutz assuming the post of chairman at Feldschlösschen.

Carlsberg said it had taken the decision to change the management at Kronenbourg to "further strengthen the revitalisation plan of the French business and to ensure the right set of competencies".

When contacted by just-drinks, a spokesperson for Carlsberg was unable to detail where Seager was going to.

"Optimisation of our management teams is an ongoing process in The Carlsberg Group," said company president & CEO, Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen. "Given his track record from Feldschlösschen and his general experience and leadership skills, we see Thomas Amstutz as the right man to take the brewery activities in France to the next level.

"We would like to thank Tim Seager for his many contributions to the management of Brasseries Kronenbourg and the Scottish & Newcastle organisation."

The changes will take effect from 8 September.