New Managing Director for Coke
A woman at the top of a major beverage company. That’s a new one to us. On 2 December 2013, Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) announced the appointment of Alison Watkins, 50, currently CEO of GrainCorp, as Group Managing Director. She will join CCA on 3 March 2014, replacing the current and long-serving group MD Terry Davis, who had said earlier this year that he would step down on this date.
CCA chairman David Gonski commented on Ms Watkins’ appointment, saying that “Alison has a highly successful operations and management background across many industries, having delivered impressive results across the food and beverages, retail and finance sectors and has significant experience in developing and managing businesses and people. The board is confident that Alison’s leadership credentials and focus on excellence position her well to drive further development and growth across the CCA Group.”
Currently, the grain handling and marketing company GrainCorp is making headlines as the target of a USD 2.7 billion takeover attempt by U.S. agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), an action for which Australian federal government approval was denied at the end of November 2013 because it was not in the national interest. Many industry participants, particularly growers in eastern Australia, have expressed concern that the proposed acquisition could reduce competition and impede growers’ ability to access the grain storage, logistics and distribution network.
Meanwhile, CCA’s Managing Director of Australian Beverages, John Murphy, outlined the company’s plans for returning to the beer market. He confirmed that the re-entry is not going to be rushed or arrogant, saying that CCA “will earn their stripes” through hard work and respect for the existing brands in the market.
Following the licensing agreement with Coors, Blue Moon Belgian White will be released on 17 December 2013. The brand will be the first in a portfolio of 28 beers and will be produced at the Casella brewery, in which CCA bought a stake in 2012.
Mr Murphy also said that the partnership with Casella will allow CCA to meet any demand for beers and enable the distribution of Australia’s biggest cider by value (Rekorderlig) to become a significant business for CCA. The Australian wine company Casella owns a 250,000 hl brewery at Yenda, in the Riverina district of New South Wales and produces its own beers under the Arvo label.
