Frucor Suntory appoints new Chief Supply Chain Officer

Energy drinks giant Frucor Suntory has today announced the appointment of Ian Roberts as Chief Supply Chain Officer, a strategic move ahead of the company's $3 billion multi-beverage partnership with Beam Suntory, which comes into effect from mid-2025.

Roberts' career highlights include two decades at Lion, operating in various senior roles, including Chief Supply Chain & Technical Director, where he played a pivotal role in transforming the company's supply chain processes. Most recently, he was Executive General Manager of Retail at Visy, where he was instrumental in establishing an innovative retail-facing division. 

"Frucor Suntory has experienced an incredible growth trajectory and with the future Suntory Oceania partnership ahead of us, I am excited to join the business during this critical period of transformation," said Roberts. 

Last month, Frucor Suntory and Beam Suntory announced a multi-billion dollar beverage group, Suntory Oceania, a partnership between the two businesses across the region, creating the fourth-largest ANZ beverage group and giving them complete end-to-end control of their extensive portfolios, including manufacturing, sales and distribution. 

Darren Fullerton, CEO of Frucor Suntory Oceania, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Ian to Suntory. His extensive experience in leading supply chain transformation and his unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement perfectly align with our values and the Yatte Minahare spirit that drives our global Suntory business."

In his new role at Frucor Suntory Oceania, Roberts will play a pivotal role in the Oceania Leadership Team, leading the trans-Tasman supply chain, including the business operations based in Wiri, New Zealand and the highly anticipated $400+ million manufacturing and distribution facility currently under construction in Ipswich, Queensland.

"Suntory's core values of craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability align perfectly with my own commitment to delivering excellence and driving positive change in the supply chain. Together, we will work towards building a world-class supply chain that will deliver exceptional results for our multi-beverage portfolio in Oceania," said Roberts.

Former Chief Supply Chain Officer Jon Sackree departed Frucor Suntory earlier this year after 10 years of dedicated service.

Stay up-to-date with the latest industry news with the Drinks Trade e-newsletter.