The night of the patriarch. Anheuser-Busch has its first non-family CEO

Everybody wants to do the right thing, but many fail badly. Dynastic successions seem natural, don’t always come to fruition but often raise an eyebrow. Especially if the heir apparent is being passed over in favour of a manager. As happened at the world’s major brewer, Anheuser-Busch.

In the sceptre is passed on safely, all’s well that ends well. But what if the sceptre is dropped and goes to pieces? Well, that’s material for a tragedy which will move people to tears even centuries later. Remember King Lear and his three daughters? If you will, Lear’s tragedy is also the story of a succession gone wrong. When in old age, Lear decides to retire and chooses to share out his kingdom among his heirs, he unknowingly kicks off the dramatic action." (King Lear, Act I).
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The Good Man of Shiner. The Corona-Importer and brewery owner Carlos Alvarez lives his own American Dream

They all want to make it. Some by fixing it, selling it, or killing it. Like Jack Welch, America’s former Superstar CEO. Others by using their charms, chutzpah and courage to spearhead a new movement. Like Pete Slosberg, who became a prominent figure in the US microbrewing scene. Today Welch is an old age pensioner and Slosberg an earthbound highflyer. Time has swept over them. But not over Carlos Alvarez, who worked long and hard to make Corona a household name and rescue struggling beer brands from extinction.

They all want to make it. They want riches, luck and success and if possible some fame. That’s the meaning of the American Dream. Germans like to eat well or to sleep well. They seek conspicuous consumption or social security. To some extent they are not wrong.
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From foundation to business BRi’s conversion to a technical consultancy business

Since June 2000 Dr Marek Kierstan (53) has been the new Chief Executive of Brewing Research International, Nutfield, UK. The new leadership, combined with structural changes in the industry, has brought about fundamental changes in the company strategy and structure.

Brauwelt International interviewed Dr Marek Kierstan to find out more about the ideas, the new structure and the new focus of this world renown brewing research institution.

Where are the roots of BRi?
Since its foundation by the British brewing industry in 1950, BRi was set up to just undertake collaborative research and until very recently it was funded almost exclusively by membership subscription. Over the decades its expertise was recognised and membership became more international.