Peter McLoughlin steps in as Coca-Cola Amatil MD

Coca Cola Amatil's senior management reshuffle continues at a rapid pace with the announcement of a new acting MD for CCA, the retirement of three board members and a new MD for Molson Coors Australia ... all within a week!

Former CUB Marketing Director and current CCA HR Director Peter McLoughlin has stepped in to replace departing MD Barry O'Connell.

O'Connell unexpectedly resigned this week after joining CCA four years ago.

The Australian Financial Review reports: "Analysts and investors said they believed Mr O'Connell left because he had learnt he was not in the running to eventually take the helm from group managing director Alison Watkins."

However, a CCA spokesperson said the decision was a mutual one.

Watkins told staff that O'Connell - who started his career in marketing in Ireland - had flagged months ago that he was keen to return to Europe.

"He felt, and I agreed, that stability of leadership for the coming years is important and that now is the right time to appoint a successor to lead the business for the next important stage," Watkins said.

McLoughlin will remain in the role until a permanent successor is found, however the Australian Financial Review reports "he is understood to be the leading internal candidate to assume the role permanently."

McLoughlin worked for SABMiller for almost 20 years in a variety of roles including sales, marketing, logistics and IT and ran Pacific Beverages, SABMiller's beer joint venture with CCA, between 2008 and 2011.

Movement on CCA board

O'Connell's departure follows CCA announcing last week that three directors will retire along with chairman David Gonski at the company's annual general meeting in May.

Wal King, David Meiklejohn and Tony Froggatt are all leaving the board.

Gonski will be succeeded by non-executive director Ilana Atlas.

The Sydney Morning Herald notes: "CCL will then become a rare ASX beast, a major corporation with women in the CEO and chairman roles."

MCI appoints new General Manager

Meanwhile, former CUB Field Sales Director Ian Mountain has been announced as Molson Coor's International’s new General Manager of Australia, succeeding David Coors, who returns to the US-based business.

Mountain brings with him over 25 years’ of beer experience, including a long and successful career with SAB Miller and previous experience of the Amatil business, where he spent a number of years as State Licensed Manager for Victoria and Tasmania.

He will work closely with CCA's new Beer and Cider Exchange team, which hit the ground this week. The team consists of 14 specialist beer and cider merchants, who will provide support to the trade and Amatil’s state sales teams.

Following the addition of the Miller brands to its premium beer portfolio late last year, Amatil has leveraged its relationship with Molson Coors International to develop a bespoke premium beer and cider strategy for the Australian market, modelled on the successful Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft and import division of the US-based MillerCoors.

Heading up the creation and appointment of the team was Amatil’s Director of Beer and Cider Judd Michel. “Premium beer consumers expect good quality beer, with top class service. To bring our brands to life in trade and bring excitement to the consumer, we need to work with the right venues, the right beers, perfectly served and expertly activated.

"From our research of MillerCoors, who successfully built the Tenth and Blake US model on this premise, this specialisation strategy works. We've got some great beer and cider brands in our portfolio and we believe this approach is the right way to build brands and drive long-term success in the Australian market," he added.

Led by Amatil’s newly-appointed beer and cider national sales manager, Damian Slater, and supported by activation managers Brad Moss and Marcus Kellett, the team consists of: NSW - Jayne Burney-Thompson, Di McFarlane, Rob Montgomery; Victoria – Rick Ellis, Saban Petrovici, Will Tinetti; Queensland – Phil Hoogkamer, Mitch Philp, Marty Hall; Western Australia – Chris Woodrow, with one further appointment to be made; South Australia – Stav Tsogas.

As part of a long-term partnership between Amatil and Molson Coors International, a division of the US-based Molson Coors Brewing Company, the team will work with the Molson Coors range (including Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Chill, Coors and Blue Moon) as well as Amatil’s other brand partners Chilli Marketing (Rekorderlig cider), Australian Beer Company (Yenda craft beer and Pressman’s cider) and the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams and Angry Orchard cider).

Pictured from left: Peter McLoughlin, Ilana Atlas, Ian Mountain