FDBusiness.com

Following fast on the heels of the changes to its regions, Molson Coors has appointed a new managing director for its UK & Ireland division. Simon Cox takes over from Stewart Glendinning – who is to head up Molson Coors Canada – with immediate effect.

Cox has been with Molson Coors since 2005, most recently as managing director, independent on-premise and wholesale. He is a master brewer, with more than 20 years’ international experience in brewing, including stints in Denmark, Vietnam and China.

Before being appointed to his previous role, Cox led the creation of the Cobra Beer Partnership and the acquisition of Cornish brewer Sharp’s.

“Simon has been instrumental in strengthening Molson Coors’ portfolio and customer orientation in the UK and Ireland and has the right balance of experience and determination to win that we need to see beer get back on the right foot in this crucial market”, said Mark Hunter, newly appointed CEO of Molson Coors Europe.

As the UK & Ireland MD, Cox will sit on the Molson Coors Europe Executive Committee, reporting into Hunter, who will be responsible for the European region’s overall performance. He will, said Molson Coors, be responsible for developing and delivering the UK & Ireland strategy, and will be accountable for its P&L.

Molson Coors has more than 2,000 employees in the UK, with breweries in Burton on Trent, Tadcaster, Alton and Rock, in Cornwall – following the formation this week of Molson Coors Europe, we asked whether there would be redundancies at the UK headquarters in Burton. A spokesman told us: “Over the coming months, our aim is to develop proposals on structures which we will share with employees and consult on in accordance with local legislation practices. We are not at the stage where we are able to be more specific.”