ST. LOUIS -- Anheuser-Busch Cos. is reshuffling part of its executive team, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Dave Peacock, who had been vice president of business operations, is swapping roles with Mike Owens, who had been vice president of marketing, the St. Louis brewer told employees late Wednesday, a company official confirmed for the newspaper.
Peacock is close to August Busch IV, A-B's CEO, and is highly regarded by the company's beer distributors, said the report. Busch told employees that Peacock will focus on reviving [image-nocss] the company's main brands.
Among other changes, Marlene Coulis, formerly vice president of brand management, will take on the role of vice president of consumer strategy and innovation. Keith Levy, formerly vice president of sales and retail marketing, will become vice president of brand management and geo marketing.
The moves mark the first significant management changes by Busch since he became CEO last December, said the report. The changes were first reported by Beer Business Daily, which cited an internal company memorandum.
A management reshuffling had been widely rumored in recent weeks, said the Journal, in part because of A-B's sluggish sales. For the second quarter, the company reported a 0.1% increase in sales to U.S. retailers, the paper said.
A-B is the largest U.S. beer maker by sales, controlling a little less than half the market. Its best-selling brands are Bud Light and Budweiser.
The management changes, announced following A-B's September board meeting, take effect October 1.
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