US: Coors Brewers Ltd boss to step down

Peter M. R. Kendall, chief executive officer of Coors Brewers Limited, the European business unit of Molson Coors Brewing Company, will retire from his post on 1 May.

Peter Swinburn, currently the president of Coors Brewing Worldwide will replace Kendall as CEO of the Europe operating unit..

"Peter Kendall has been an integral part of our international operations since he joined the company in 1998, successfully expanding our business in the United Kingdom and beyond," said Leo Kiely, chief executive officer of Molson Coors Brewing Company. "Peter is a fine strategic business leader, and he has contributed to our global business success in the Caribbean, Asia, Ireland and more recently the UK and Europe. I am grateful to Peter for his leadership over the past years, and we wish him the best in his retirement."

Kiely added: "I can think of no better person than Peter Swinburn to fill the position of chief executive officer of the UK-based operations. The depth and knowledge he has of the beer business in the UK combined with his experience in worldwide operations makes him a true global player."

Swinburn has been with the company since 1975 and has held various senior roles in marketing, retail management and sales. As president of Coors Brewing Worldwide since 2003, he has been responsible for international sales and operations throughout the world - excluding the UK and Europe - and spearheaded the company's focus on global marketing opportunities and development of emerging markets.

Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer and sales director in charge of marketing Coors Brewers Limited beer brands including Carling, Grolsch and Worthington's, as well as flavored alcoholic beverages such as Reef and Screamers in the UK market. Swinburn was also a chairman of Tradeteam, a logistics company jointly owned by Coors Brewers Limited and Ocean Group; and a director of Grolsch UK, a joint venture between Coors Brewers Limited and Grolsch.

In concert with the leadership changes, the company said that several business segments within the Molson Coors will be realigned. Coors Canada has been integrated into Molson Canada. Molson USA and sales to the military will be folded into the Coors Brewing Company in the US. The Mexico and Caribbean operations will report into Coors Brewing Company.

The Asian operations, which include Japan, China and Taiwan, will report into Coors Brewers Limited.

"These operational changes will consolidate Molson Coors' business into four large operating units - Coors Brewing Company, Molson Canada, Coors Brewers Limited and Cervejarias Kaiser - thereby simplifying the organization and taking advantage of synergistic opportunities in our geographic markets around the world," said Kiely.