The AGM also appointed Jim Kenyon of Hereford Brewery as vice chairman.
Bott served as chairman from 2002-2006 and then from 2011-2014. He said: “I’m delighted to be handing the chairman’s baton to Guy, who has been a valued SIBA trustee for many years. He takes office at the start of a new, exciting chapter for SIBA and I am confident that he will do an excellent job, helping to take the restructured organisation forward to the benefit of our members and of British beer and brewing overall.”
Guy Sheppard co-founded Exe Valley Brewery, in Silverton, Devon, with Richard Barron of Barron’s Brewery, established in 1984. He is now the sole owner and has been a member of SIBA’s commercial board since it started.
New structure
Members also voted for a change in SIBA’s structure, which will merge the management of the trade association and the commercial arm, until now run as a separate entity.
The new unifying structure follows an in-depth strategic review of SIBA, developed around a vision for the organisation to ‘build the future of British beer’ and examining both its trade association activities including political lobbying, training and membership services, as well as its successful commercial wing.
Underpinning the recommendations of the review was a desire to put members “at the heart” of SIBA. Under the new structure, the unified board will comprise 24 trustees from SIBA’s eight regions, a new managing director and finance director, as well as three non-executive directors. The trustees will, as currently, set strategy for and ratify decisions by the executive, led by the MD.
Unity
Bott, who proposed the motion to change the structure, said: “SIBA is unusual if not unique among trade bodies, as having a thriving commercial arm in addition to our conventional trade association activities. Bringing these two aspects of the organisation together puts us in a far stronger position to move forward and help our members to thrive within a favourable political, commercial and social environment for British beer.”
He continued: “SIBA brewers have been at the forefront of the resurgence of interest in British beer and we’re delighted with the change in perceptions of beer among consumers, retailers and politicians, which recognises beer as the responsible alcoholic drink. Last year’s cut in beer duty was a powerful signal from the government that beer deserves their support, and we hope to see that continued in next week’s Budget, with a duty freeze.”