Brewer appoints Briton as new managing director
EABL Managing Director Charles Ireland speaks during the release of the company's financial results for the year ending June 30, 2015 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi on July 31, 2015. The brewer, a subsidiary of UK multinational Diageo, announced on June 10, 2016 that British national Andrew Cowan will be taking over leadership of the company beginning July 28. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Cowan’s appointment sees Mr Ireland exit Kenya to take up the newly created role of general manager Great Britain, Ireland and France for Diageo with his base being London.
- In the six months to December, the brewer’s profits grew by over two-thirds to Sh7.7 billion on the sale of land at Ruaraka and its glass manufacturing subsidiary Central Glass Industries.
Beer maker EABL has appointed British national Andrew Cowan as its new managing director, taking over from Charles Ireland who has been at the helm of the company for three years.
The brewer, a subsidiary of UK multinational Diageo, announced on Friday that Mr Cowan would be taking over leadership of the company beginning July 28, giving ample time for transition.
Mr Cowan joined Diageo in 2008 and has until his latest appointment been the multinational’s country director in Great Britain and prior to that commercial director in Ireland.
“We are certainly pleased to have Mr Cowan at EABL as an established global business leader in the FMCG business,” Charles Muchene, the brewer’s board chairman, said in a statement.
“We see him bringing in a lot of expertise and commercial leadership which will be a good fit for the business. This will help us consolidate on the good progress and solid foundation that we have built over the years.”
Mr Cowan’s appointment sees Mr Ireland exit Kenya to take up the newly created role of general manager Great Britain, Ireland and France for Diageo with his base being London.
Prior to him joining EABL in April 2013, Mr Ireland was the managing director of Guinness Anchor Berhad in Malaysia, a joint venture between Diageo plc and Asia Pacific Breweries.
It is Diageo’s practice to replace its seconded executives after three years of service.
“During Mr Ireland’s time, EABL has become one of the best performing markets in Diageo and the fastest growing market for Guinness,” Mr Muchene said.
“Sustainable development performance has also significantly improved as evidenced by local material sourcing which increased from 45 per cent to over 80 per cent.”
Mr Cowan will join EABL a month into its new financial year.
In the six months to December, the brewer’s profits grew by over two-thirds to Sh7.7 billion on the sale of land at Ruaraka and its glass manufacturing subsidiary Central Glass Industries.
EABL’s net sales for the six months to December grew eight per cent to Sh37.5 billion, buoyed by low-cost beer Senator Keg following a lowering of excise tax mid-last year.
