In his new role, which is effective from January 7, Adami will become responsible for overall strategy for SABMiller's South Africa beverage business. He will continue as a member of the group executive committee.
COO Alan Clark, said: “Given the continuing strategic importance of our operations in South Africa, we have decided to appoint a new managing director to run the beer business, who will report to Norman and free him up to play a more strategic and influential role in the further development of our beverage businesses in South Africa, as well as our ongoing operations in Namibia."
The new managing director of beer South Africa will be Mauricio Leyva Arboleda, the current president of SABMiller’s business in Peru, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus y Johnston S.A.A. (Backus).
Leyva has been with the SABMiller group since the merger with Grupo Empresarial Bavaria in 2005. He was vice president of marketing for Bavaria SA in Colombia before being appointed in March 2009 as president of Cerveceria Hondurena S.A., the group’s beer and soft drinks business in Honduras, and was appointed as president of Backus in October 2011. He will take up his new appointment on January 7.
Leyva (42) is a Colombian national. Prior to joining Bavaria in 2005, Leyva worked in senior commercial roles at Avianca, Colombia’s leading airline, and at COMCEL, Colombia’s leading telecoms company. He began his career with McKinsey & Co in Germany, after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Los Andes in Colombia, and has a Masters in International Management from the Université de Nancy in France. He is married, with three children.
Adami said: “Mauricio is one of SABMiller’s best operators worldwide, and his skills, leadership and track record make him a great choice to carry forward our strategy here in South Africa. His appointment reflects the strength of SABMiller as a truly global developer of strong executive leadership."
Other appointments, including the new president of Backus in Peru, will be announced later.
