Mark Hunter, chief executive of Molson Coors, has replaced Ralph Findlay, chief executive at Marston’s, as chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).
Findlay is stepping down after the completion of his two-year term of office. He will be replaced on the BBPA board by Erik Castenskiold director of corporate affairs at Mitchells & Butlers.
Hunter joined Bass Brewers in the 1980s and became marketing director in 1997. He transferred to Molson in Canada in 2005 as chief commercial officer following the formation of Molson Coors.
He then returned to the UK as chief executive for Molson Coors UK and Ireland and is a member of the Molson Coors global executive team.
He is also a Portman Group Council member and a trustee of the Drinkaware Trust. He has chaired the BBPA's Finance Committee since 2010, and has been a member of the BBPA's Board since 2009.
Hunter said: “Growth is our economic priority. Over the next two years, we have to set in train two things. We have to play, fully, our leading role in building a culture of moderation in the UK, founded on respect for alcohol and we have to champion our category through a celebration of beer and pubs – reconnecting British drinkers with beer.
"We want the government to share a growth agenda which creates jobs and stimulates the responsible consumption of lower strength alcohol such as beer with policies that support community pubs and enable hard-pressed consumers to still afford one of life's simple pleasures, a pint shared with friends and family.”
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “In Mark, the BBPA is very fortunate to have another chairman running a major company in our sector with the huge breadth of knowledge and experience that this brings. We all look forward to working with him.
“I want also to thank and pay tribute to our outgoing chairman, Ralph Findlay. Ralph has chaired a number of key committees at the BBPA for many years, and in the last two years he has been chairman during a period of huge challenges.
“He has been unswervingly loyal, supportive and always found time for us whilst being chief executive of Marston’s. I must thank the whole board for all their hard work, but particularly Ralph as he hands over the reins to Mark Hunter.”
