Molson Coors Beverage Co has promoted its ‘Western Europe’ MD to oversee operations outside of North America.
Just over three months ago, the company confirmed the immediate departure of the CEO of Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific, Sergey Yeskov. Starting this week, Phil Whitehead (below) has moved up to take on the role, adding to his 16-and-a-half years with Molson Coors.
Since joining the multi-category group in 2008, initially as manufacturing director, Whitehead became its MD for the UK & Ireland as well as ‘Western Europe’ eight years later before taking the lead solely for the latter region in 2019.
Group CEO Gavin Hattersley credited Whitehead with the UK launch in 2020 of the Madri Excepcional brand, “our most successful innovation in many years”.
“He has also overseen many years of growth and achievement including growing above-premium brands Staropramen, Pravha and Cobra, and diversifying beyond beer with the acquisition of Aspall Cyder [in 2018],” Hattersley added.
A flat sales performance in the first nine months of 2024 belied Molson Coors’ showing in EMEA & Asia Pacific, where sales increased by 5.7% on the corresponding period a year earlier.
