Anheuser-busch names Michel Doukeris new CEO effective July 1

Anheuser-busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer and the parent company of Nigeria’s International Breweries PLC, has announced that its Board of Directors has elected Michel Doukeris, to succeed Carlos Brito as chief executive officer (CEO) effective 1 July, 2021.

Doukeris, who until his new appointment was the president of AB Inbev’s North America Zone, will champion AB Inbev’s transformation and lead its next chapter of growth.

He has consistently delivered strong results while serving in Brazil, China and the United States, and as President of the North America Zone, the U.S. business delivered consistent topline growth, and led the beer industry to innovation in the last two years.

“After conducting a rigorous and robust selection process, the Board is delighted that our next CEO comes from our deep bench of leadership talent. Michel is the right leader to take the company into its next phase of organic growth and success,” said Martin Barrington, AB Inbev Board Chairman in a statement released recently.

Barrington, who stated that the Board was excited to continue to work with Michel, said Michel has a proven track record in innovation, multi-category brand building in beer and adjacencies, consumer insight, and premium brands expansion in both emerging and developed markets.

While expressing gratitude to Brito, outgoing CEO, for his tremendous service and leadership, Barrington said Brito was the architect who built AB Inbev into the world’s leading beer company, and a leading global consumer packaged goods company by integrating its many businesses.

“I am honoured by the opportunity to lead AB Inbev and to continue its legacy of exceptional leadership and value creation. Throughout my career at AB Inbev, I have had the privilege to lead our business in different regions of the world and to work alongside the industry’s most talented colleagues,” Doukeris stated.

He promised to bring a fresh perspective that builds on a consumer-first mindset, and drives innovation as well as transformation in this next exciting stage. He thanked the Board of Directors for their confidence in him to lead.

On his part, Carlos Brito, the outgoing CEO said he was proud of being part of the team of 164,000 colleagues around the world.

“It has been an honour and privilege to work with such a talented group of individuals as we built this global company based on strong values and unwavering commitment to excellence, quality, consumers, and communities. I am excited about the future of our business under Michel’s leadership,” said Brito, who is stepping down after 15 years as CEO and 32 years at the company.

Before leading the North America Zone, Doukeris was the company’s global Chief Sales Officer that was after serving as President of the Asia Pacific Zone where he accelerated top line, volume and EBITDA growth and implemented the ‘High End’ division in China, a transformational route- to- market initiative focused on building premium brands.

He also successfully implemented the company’s first direct-to-consumer ecommerce platform.