Molson Coors UK & Ireland managing director Cox to head Europe operation
The company has not issued information on who will head the UK and Ireland business after Cox starts his new role at the end of the year.
Hunter is replacing Peter Swinburn as chief executive of the global Molson Coors Brewing Company business when Swinburn retires at the end of 2014.
Cox has held a number of senior leadership positions with Carlsberg and Molson Coors since he joined the industry in 1989. He joined Molson Coors in 2005 as director of supply chain strategy, later becoming strategy director then managing director for the independent on premise, before taking over the UK and Ireland business in 2012.
Swinburn said: “We are fortunate to have someone with such broad experience in the industry and such extensive knowledge of our business to lead our European organisation.
“With more than 25 years in the beer industry and more than nine with Molson Coors, Simon has been directly engaged as a senior executive in building our expanded European business since the successful acquisition of StarBev two years ago.”
Expertise
Hunter said: “Simon Cox brings exceptional operations expertise and strong, proven business leadership skills to the chief executive position. He is both a master brewer and a top-tier commercial leader.
“Under his leadership, the UK business has seen consistent strong performance improvement over the past two years, and his extensive international experience makes him especially well-suited for this pan-European role.”
Cox said: “I am extremely proud to be selected to lead Molson Coors Europe. This is an exciting business which has been growing on the strength of great brands and brilliant execution in the marketplace since the acquisition of the Central European operation.
“We have a talented team of people who are second to none when it comes to competing—and winning—even in tough economic and market conditions and I look forward to building on that success.”
