Beer boss heads to Murray Goulburn

Four months after announcing he was stepping down as Managing Director of SABMiller Asia Pacific, Ari Mervis has been appointed Managing Director of Murray Goulburn.

Mervis, who will earn $1.5m a year - with short and long term incentive provisions - starts in his new role on February 13.

"We are delighted to have secured a candidate with a proven track record of delivering results and operational success across multiple geographies," chairman Philip Tracy said in a statement.

“I am looking forward to partnering with MG’s dairy farmers, employees, customers and stakeholders to restore this great Australian co-operative, as we adapt to the challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry globally,” Mervis added. 

Mervis was previously Asia Pacific managing director of SAB Miller and CEO of Carlton United Breweries.

He was appointed Managing Director, Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer of Carlton & United Breweries in 2011. He joined ABI, the soft drinks division of The South African Breweries Limited (SAB Ltd), in 1989 and has held various senior positions in sales, marketing, finance and general management. He has held the position of Managing Director, SABMiller Asia, Managing Director of Appletiser and Managing Director of SABMiller operations in Russia and Australia.

He departed the role following the SABMiller/AB InBev merger. 

"I have been most fortunate to have spent the last 27 years with SABMiller and have enjoyed a career which has been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding and has given me and my family the opportunity to live and work in a number of locations across four different continents," he said at the time. "Without doubt the greatest reward has been the opportunity to meet so many terrific people; colleagues, customers, business partners and peers that I will be privileged to have has friends in the future." 

Mervis joins Murray Goulburn at a challenging time. Previous CEO Gary Helou departed in April at the same time as the company announced a profit downgrade due to a global oversupply of milk and cuts to the price paid to farmers for their milk. 

The company said it was no longer feasible to pay $5.60 per kilogram of milk solids, dropping payment by 10% to $4.75-5 per kilogram.

As news.com.au noted last week: "Some farmers didn’t make it through the tough year, taking their own lives. Many others were forced to sell their farms or cattle and machinery to survive."