Goodyear was, of course, the ruddy face of Young & Co, its chief executive for 13 years, presiding over the most tumultuous times in the family brewer’s long history.
The closure in 2006 of the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, its home since 1831, meant a sharp strategic turn towards the development of its pub estate and a close working relationship with Charles Wells, which continues to produce and supply Young’s beers to the standards expected by a rather demanding set of customers.
Goodyear’s particular focus though, and arguably his greatest legacy, was on the group’s managed house division, driving up retail standards to lead the industry in quality and service.
His surprise acquisition of Geronimo Inns at the tail end of 2010 added another dimension to the pub operation, establishing Young’s as a force on London’s fashionable gastropub scene, and alongside that the company expanded the letting accommodation side of its business, developing fully-fledged hotels and adding boutique-style rooms to its pubs.
Well before all this, though, Goodyear had an impact on what was, when he joined, a conservative family brewery. He attracted the attention of its legendary chairman John Young while at Courage Brewery, where he began his career in 1973. Young brought him in as sales director in 1995 and within a year promoted him to the board where he led his first strategic shift, driving Young’s beers out to a broader audience beyond its own pub estate. When he started, 70% of the company’s production was sold through tied houses. By the time Young’s ceased brewing, 70% was sold through the freetrade.
He was appointed chief executive in 2003, taking over from Patrick Read, and the following year launched the review of brewing operations that would have such far-reaching consequences.
Goodyear has proven himself to be one of those rare individuals, an ‘outsider’ who has been able to gain the trust of a family brewer to lead them through testing times, in his case ultimately taking them out of brewing altogether and into a secure future as a retailer.
The trick he’s mastered has been to understand the culture of a family business and keep it intact through times of great change.
And that’s been recognised by his grateful employer, which has announced that he’ll be taking over from Nick Bryan as Young’s non-executive chairman. It very much looks like Goodyear will be having at least one for the road.