C&C group appoints former boss of British brewery as chairman

IRISH drinks group C&C has further internationalised its board of directors by announcing the appointment of Brian Stewart as its next chairman, succeeding Tony O’Brien, who is retiring after nearly 30 years with the group.

Mr Stewart will formally become an independent non-executive director and chairman designate of C&C as of March 9. He will be appointed non-executive chairman at C&C’s annual general meeting on August 5, when Mr O’Brien, who was chief executive for 20 years and non-executive chairman for a further eight years, formally retires.

The new chairman brings strong industry experience to C&C. He is already well-known to the Dublin-headquartered group’s current Anglo-Scottish senior management team, having been a previous chairman and chief executive of Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) brewery – from where C&C’s current chief executive John Dunsmore, finance director, Stephen Glancey, and strategy director, Kenny Neison, joined in 2008.

While at S&N, Mr Stewart oversaw a number of key events prior to Heineken’s takeover of the company – including the acquisition of French lager brand Kronenbourg 1664 and its international expansion outside of Britain and into Asia.

Outside of the drinks industry, Mr Stewart was chairman of Standard Life and led the process which resulted in the Scottish financial services giant’s demutualisation.

Mr Stewart said: “C&C Group has an attractive business, a strong portfolio of brands and an experienced team. Tony and the team have built strong brands and developed real growth opportunities, and the company clearly has exciting potential.”

Mr O’Brien added that Mr Stewart’s industry experience and trade connections make him “well equipped to provide astute strategic leadership of the board”, adding that he is “the ideal person to lead the next phase of C&C’s development”.