SABMiller’s Wyman to retire, spotlight on CEO

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Global brewer SABMiller Plc said its Chief Financial Officer Malcolm Wyman would retire at end-August to be replaced by internal candidate James Wilson, which is likely to throw the spotlight on when Chief Executive Graham Mackay decides to retire.
Wyman leaves after 25 years at SABMiller, becoming chief financial officer in 2001 some two years after the group’s listing in London, and has worked closed with Mackay on expanding the group to become the world’s second biggest brewer.

Chief Executive Mackay, 61, has been at the group’s helm since the brewer moved to London and turns 62 this summer, but according to a person close to the company, “He shows no sign of stepping down.”

Wilson, 51, has worked in the global drinks industry for 23 years in a range of roles from finance director of Famous Grouse scotch whisky group Highland Distillers, then moving to brewer Scottish and Newcastle, and currently works as finance director at SABMiller Europe.

SABMiller, the brewer of Miller Lite, Peroni and Grolsch beers, said Wyman will stand down from the board at the group’s annual general meeting on July 21, and turns 65 shortly afterwards.

SABMiller shares were off 0.9 percent at 22.56 pounds by 0750 GMT in line with a lower London stock market.