By James Atkinson
Coopers is set to acquire the remaining 20 per cent of Premium Beverages following the retirement of Bruce Siney, the current managing director of the beer sales and marketing business.
Siney was the owner of American Beverage Distributors, which formed the Premium Beverages joint venture with Coopers in 2003.
In an exclusive interview with TheShout on the eve of Siney's retirement, Premium Beverages general manager sales and marketing, Mark Goulmy, revealed that Coopers will gradually take full ownership of the company over the next couple of years.
Siney will continue on the board of Premium Beverages as a non-executive director.
"I don't think it really changes anything at all," Goulmy said.
"That's been one of the key directives from Coopers… they just want to keep things as consistent as possible because the track record has been so good."
Premium Beverages chairman Dr Tim Cooper said that under Siney's leadership, the success of Premium Beverages in growing Coopers' beer volume interstate by 17 per cent per annum had exceeded all expectations.
The existing organisational structure for Premium Beverages remains unchanged.
Glenn Cooper, a director of Premium Beverages, will assume the role of director of sales at Premium Beverages, and will retain his position as chairman of Coopers Brewery.
Coopers director Cam Pearce will take over Glenn Cooper's current marketing activities, having been appointed to the role of national marketing director for both Coopers and Premium Beverages.
Pearce also assumes responsibility for beer sales in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
"These changes will assist both Coopers and Premium Beverages to leverage more opportunities through increased alignment and synergy between the two organisations," Dr Tim Cooper said.