SIBA announces new chairman

Fozard has run Rooster’s Brewery in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, with his sons Tom and Oliver since 2011 and he has been a SIBA board member for more than four years.

He has experience of the pub industry prior to purchasing the brewery and is a qualified accountant.

Successful and vibrant future

The new chair said: “I am delighted to be elected chairman of SIBA by my board of colleagues and am proud to have the trust of SIBA brewers from across the UK behind me.

“I hope to help guide SIBA and its members towards a successful and vibrant future for British independent craft beer at a time when there are threats and challenges coming from various directions.

“I intend to be open and approachable to all SIBA members. SIBA’s strength is in being a broad church and I will do everything in my power to retain this status, encouraging tolerance of different views and different brewing size and style.”

The new chairman is a valuable asset to members, according to the society’s chief executive Mike Benner.

Valuable asset

Benner said: “Fozard’s experience of the British pub and beer market, both in owning and running a successful pub company with Market Town Taverns and Rooster’s Brewery, is a valuable asset to SIBA members.

“His leadership and direction on issues such as the future of Small Breweries' Relief and access to market could not come at a more important time. I would like to welcome Fozard to the team and look forward to working closely with him to the benefit of our member businesses.”

Previous chairman, Buster Grant who was also the owner of Brecon Brewing resigned from the post in April this year.

Lincoln Green Brewery’s Anthony Hughes also joins the organisation as SIBA’s new vice-chairman.