By Andrew Starke
The former managing director of Coopers Brewery, Bill Cooper, has retired as a director of the family owned company after 40 years service.
His position has been filled by Melanie Cooper, who has been with the company for 16 years, and becomes the first female member on Coopers Board.
She is currently Coopers’ financial accountant and has been the alternate director for Bill Cooper for the past year.
Melanie Cooper has also been a Governor of the Coopers Brewery Foundation since its inception in 2006.
Bill Cooper, who was managing director of Coopers between 1977 and 2002, was appointed to the Coopers Board in 1969, having joined the brewery in 1960.
He tendered his resignation at the recent Coopers Board meeting after completing 40 years service.
Along with former chairman, Maxwell Cooper, Bill oversaw the development of lager brewing at Coopers and the introduction of home brew kits.
He helped steer the company through difficult financial times in the late 1970s and later commenced the Adelaide Malting Company, which became a significant financial bonus to Coopers Brewery.
He also found the site for Coopers’ new brewery at Regency Park, which enabled Coopers to subsequently relocate from Leabrook.
Coopers managing director, Tim Cooper, said Bill had shown a passion and commitment to the company, its employees and the brewing community in general over his time in the industry.