Did he run out of charms
In the end not even his long-term employers, Philip Morris’ Marlboro men, who are SABMiller’s largest shareholders, supported him: In January, after 28 years with Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing Co (which are both part of Philip Morris), John Bowlin took immediate leave as CEO of Miller Brewing Co. Last year, Bowlin, who joined Miller in 1999 to bring about a desperately needed turnaround, was allowed to smile on Philip Morris’ unexpected coup: the sale of Miller to South African Breweries for US$ 4.9 billion. However, at the end of 2002 signs of a turnaround were still nowhere in sight. In 2002, Miller registered another decline in beer output: minus 3 percent. That proved Bowlin’s downfall. The South African of Lebanese origins joined SAB in 1979. No small feat..
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