Lion Nathan announces new National Foods MD

Posted by Daniel Palmer on 25th September 2009

The Managing Director of Lion Nathan Australia, Andrew Reeves, is set to take the position of MD of dairy and juice group National Foods.

Last week Ashley Waugh, the current Managing Director of National Foods, announced his intention to move on from the firm.

The management shake-up comes following Lion Nathan shareholder approval for the takeover by Japanese beverage group Kirin Holdings. The approval means that Kirin will combine their Australian operations (which include National Foods) under the one name – Lion Nathan National Foods Pty Ltd.

Chief Executive of Lion Nathan, Rob Murray, will take the position at the head of the combined entity, while current Lion Nathan Commercial Director, James Brindley, will move to the post vacated by Mr Reeves.

“Andrew and James have been a driving force in transforming Lion Nathan’s sales and marketing capability, creating an acute focus on the consumer, building strong partnerships with joint venture partners Heineken and Bacardi, and completing the successful acquisition of Boag’s,” Mr Murray advised. “I have every confidence they will continue to grow the Lion Nathan Australia and National Foods businesses respectively.”

Pending approval by the Federal Court for the Kirin takeover, Reeves and Brindley will assume their new roles during October.