Meyer Kahn, 72, (pictured) who has been chairman of SAB Miller since its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1999, will retire as chairman after 46 years with the group.
Graham Mackay who joined the group in 1978 and who has been group managing director since 1997 and chief executive since 1999, will become executive chairman, with the intention that he will continue in that role for one year, before becoming non-executive chairman at the annual general meeting in 2013.
Alan Clark, currently managing director of SAB Miller Europe, will be appointed as CEO of the group, and as an executive director, with the intention that he will succeed Graham Mackay as chief executive at the annual general meeting in 2013.
John Manser, currently the senior independent non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee, will in addition become deputy chairman of the board.
Sue Clark, currently the group’s director of corporate affairs, will succeed Alan Clark as managing director of SAB Miller Europe. Sue’s successor will “be announced in due course”.
Commenting on Meyer Kahn’s retirement and Graham Mackay’s appointment, John Manser said:“The senior management team at SAB Miller has been one of the most stable and consistent in the FTSE 100, with the chairman and chief executive being amongst the longest serving in their respective posts.
“The board has unanimously concluded that Graham Mackay is the outstanding candidate to succeed Meyer as chairman.”
The company has also announced that Rob Pieterse, who has been an independent non-executive director since 2008, will be retiring from the board at the 2012 AGM.
The board has appointed five new independent non-executive directors over the past four years. SABMiller has written to its shareholders to explain the reasons for these appointments. You can read it here.
