Britvic CEO Simon Litherland and managing director Paul Graham are to leave the soft drinks supplier, following the completion of its £3.3bn merger with Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC).
Litherland, who spent 14 years with the London-listed Britvic – including 12 as its CEO – will hand over the reins at Britvic to Paul Davies. The CMBC boss has been appointed CEO of the newly formed Carlsberg Britvic.
“I am very proud of everything we have achieved as Britvic plc, while always staying true to our core vision and values,” Litherland wrote on LinkedIn on Friday (17 January). “Together we have consistently delivered excellent shareholder returns, invested significantly into our brands and operations to fuel innovation and growth, and always tried to do the right thing by both people and planet.
“From today, we hand over the reins to the Carlsberg Group. I am very confident that an exciting future lies ahead, and I wish the entire team every possible success for the future.”
Graham, meanwhile, departs Britvic after 12 years, including 11 as its managing director.
News of the departures was made public after Carlsberg Britvic’s senior leadership team was unveiled last week.
The top team at the company – which lays claim to be the “largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK” – will be made up of a mixture of former CMBC and Britvic executives.
From Britvic, it includes Ben Parker (VP sales – off trade), Chris Hancock (VP transformation and integration), Bruce Dallas (VP commercial growth), Kathryn Partridge (VP corporate affairs and sustainability) and Russell Goldman (managing director of breakthrough brands).
From CMBC’s side are Chris Pratt (VP sales – on trade), Deborah Preston (VP human resources) and Sarah Perry (VP customer supply chain).
The merger formally completed yesterday (16 January) after receiving approval at a sanction court hearing on 15 January. It makes the UK Carlsberg Group’s biggest single market by revenue globally.
The trading of Britvic shares on the London Stock Exchange, meanwhile, will cease as of 20 January.
Carlsberg Britvic would combine CMBC’s “breweries and leading in-house secondary logistics operation” with Britvic’s “dynamic packaging and production capabilities”, said the supplier.
Brands that will sit in the Carlsberg Britvic portfolio include beers such as Carlsberg, 1664, Hobgoblin and Tuborg, as well as soft drinks including Robinsons and J2O.
The company will also own the rights to manufacture and distribute PepsiCo drinks brands including Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Tango and 7up.
“This is a historic moment for everyone across our unique combined multi-beverage business, and I am immensely proud to have the opportunity to lead this new company, featuring so many iconic brands and so many dedicated and talented people,” said Carlsberg Britvic CEO Davies. “As we look to the future together, Carlsberg Britvic will demonstrate the important values that underpin our dedication to our customers, our consumers, our people and our planet.
“Carlsberg Britvic combines the fantastic qualities of both businesses and our shared ambition to grow the UK beverage category through our unique proposition across soft drinks, beer and cider,” Davies continued. “We are all eager to build a successful future together as we create new opportunities, integrate our operations and continue to deliver excellent choice, product quality and service to our customers.”
Carlsberg Group has previously said it intends to find some £100m in efficiency savings over five years from the merger.
The Unite union has warned if the group proceeds with plans to cut 1% of the combined workforce, hundreds of jobs could be lost in the UK.
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