Change at the top of AB-InBev Germany

Those revolving doors at the top of AB-InBev’s German unit keep on spinning. As of 1 January 2014 Steve McAllister (47) will succeed Chris Cools (46), who is leaving AB-InBev after 17 years, AB-InBev said on 17 October 2013. Mr Cools only became head of the German unit in 2010, when his predecessor Jens Hösel left after merely a year at the helm. The departure of Mr Cools brings the tally of bosses that have come and gone in Bremen over the past ten years up to six. AB-InBev employs about 2,800 people in Germany. 1,400 work in Bremen, where AB-InBev Germany is headquartered.

On 17 October 2013 it also transpired that AB-InBev plans to make 151 people redundant in Bremen because of high labour costs in the face of declining beer sales and rising overcapacities. AB-InBev did not say when the redundancies would occur.

What angers employees is that a few days previously there was a works assembly and management did not make a beep about this. A subsequent statement by AB-InBev that the company wants to keep the Bremen site did not do anything to diminish worries.