Anheuser-Busch announces new leadership team
Anheuser-Busch has assembled a new leadership team. Dave Peacock, president of the company now that InBev of Belgium has bought the St. Louis-based brewer, announced the line-up today in a memo to employees. Changes are happening fast now that “Anheuser-Busch InBev” is coming together.
Here’s the quick run-down:
Evan C. Athanas continues in his role as vice president of sales, a position he has held since October 2007. Athanas is responsible for leading all region sales and national retail sales. A native of Charlotte, N.C., Athanas joined the company in 1992. We first encountered Athanas in April, when Anheuser-Busch unveiled a new program to build loyalty among its beer distributors by relaxing restrictions on beers they could carry. Athanas was involved in implementing the program.
Keith S. Levy has been named vice president of marketing, Peacock’s previous job. He will be responsible for all brand management, consumer strategies and innovation, creative development, media, sports and entertainment sponsorships and “activation and heritage operations.” That last category includes the company’s Clydesdales, brewery tours and Grant’s Farm. Levy is currently vice president of brand management. Levy has talked to the Post-Dispatch about the Super Bowl and Michelob’s efforts to grow through quirky marketing on the Food Network. (You can read the stories here and here). Levy joined Anheuser-Busch in 1987 after working in sales management at Gallo Wine. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.
Anthony J. Short is named vice president of business and wholesaler development. He will be responsible for helping wholesalers improve their business operations and profitability. A native of St. Louis who joined the company in 1986 as a senior auditor, Short has held various management positions working with the wholesaler system.
Marie C. Carroll has been named vice president of commercial planning and performance management. She will be responsible for financial planning and sales and market analysis. A 28-year veteran of Anheuser-Busch, Carroll was previously a financial analyst at McDonnell Douglas and Manufacturers Hanover Trust. She is a native of Philadelphia, who earned an MBA from Washington University.
David R. English will continue as vice president and general manager of non-alcohol beverages. English has been in that job since March. English has held several jobs in A-B’s marketing machine. He was a marketing specialist in August Busch IV’s office, as well as a vice president managing the Budweiser brand. He joined the company in 1986 and is a native of St. Louis.
Additionally, Bob Lachky will continue to work as the company’s chief creative officer. He will assist Peacock and Levy with the transition to InBev ownership.
Peacock wrote: “Bob, Keith and I will work closely to ensure our successful track record in marketing continues.”
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Jeremiah McWilliams is a native Virginian who came to the Post-Dispatch in early 2007 to cover beer and other consumer products. He previously covered manufacturing for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. 
Who cares! Let the firings begin, right? Time to pull out the axe and start chopping loyal employees at random to save “costs”. Tomorrow is Black Friday for hundreds of AB salaried employees.
Soooo, raise up a Boulevard Wheat or Heineken and drink to the loyal employees who will be losing homes, pulling children out of college, and seeking other employment…SALUTE!
Let’s also drink to the Golden Parachute executive crowd who sold out all of their subordinates, and will be living a lavish lifestyle while the people getting fired lose their homes and dignity. Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray.
For those of you who are thinking “it’s about the shareholder value, not employees” - you’re next. Good luck.