Fuller’s reveals board reshuffle following Asahi deal
The £250m deal, which was announced on 25 January 2019, revealed that Fuller's cider, soft drinks, wine wholesaling and distribution business, as well as its beer and brewing operations, would move to Asahi’s ownership.
The acquisition included Fuller’s historic Griffin brewery, Cornish Orchards, Dark Star and Nectar Imports brands.
A statement on 29 March revealed that the disposal of the Fuller’s Beer Business will result in the roles of managing director of The Fuller’s Beer Company and a separate managing director for Fuller’s Inns becoming redundant.
Additionally, the role of corporate affairs director will also cease to exist.
This means that, subject to the deal’s completion, Simon Dodd will step down as managing director of The Fuller’s Beer Company and as a director on 30 April 2019 while Jonathon Swaine will resign as managing director of Fuller’s Inns and as a director on 11 October 2019.
Richard Fuller will also step down as corporate affairs director on 31 January 2020 but will remain on the board as a non-executive director.
In addition to the above changes, Fred Turner, currently head of Fuller’s tenanted division, will take on responsibility for the managed division of Fuller’s Inns as retail director and will join the board as an executive director on 1 June.
The news follows Fuller’s announcement on 12 March that, on the recommendation of its nominations committee, Helen Jones had been appointed to its board as an independent non-executive director with effect from that date while on 18 March, Fuller’s revealed that Adam Councell will join its board as finance director on 27 August 2019.
This raft of personnel changes comes in the wake of news reported by The Morning Advertiser that St Austell Brewery owned Bath Ales had hired Fuller’s head brewer Georgina Young to lead operations at its Bristol brewery.
Fuller’s statement also revealed that the UK Competition & Markets Authority has “no further questions” over the sale of its brewing business to Asahi.
