Asahi Beverages has detailed a number of changes to its executive team as it prepares for transition and succession to its Chief Executive Officer role.
The company has created a new executive role, Group Chief Operating Officer, which will be the transition role, with Asahi saying that after several years of strong revenue and earnings growth it is in “a great position to commence an orderly transition to a new leader”.
The company has announced the internal appointment of current Chief Financial Officer, Robert Iervasi, into the role as Chief Operating Officer.
Executive Chairman, Peter Margin said: “This is great recognition of the outstanding personal and professional development Robert has undergone in recent years, and shows that Asahi Beverages is prepared to develop talent within the business. I am also pleased about the transparency of our succession planning process as it encourages a culture of openness and candour on professional development. I look forward to working with Robert in his new role.”
Iervasi started his career with the company, then Cadbury Schweppes, in 2006 and progressed through a number of roles across both Confectionery and Food & Beverages.
Iervasi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree majoring in Accounting and Finance, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. He was also selected as a Young Executive of the Year 2012 by the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Magazine.
In other changes announced today, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Wayne Angus has been appointed to a role within Asahi Group Holdings in Japan.
Further to these appointments Amanda Sellers has been appointed to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer. She was most recently General Manager Finance, Transurban, and also has extensive experience in the beverage industry having held senior executive roles with Treasury Wine Estates, Foster’s Group and Pernod Ricard.
Sandra Gibbs has been promoted to the position of Chief Supply Chain Officer, and will have responsibility for Logistics, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Planning and other Supply Chain projects. Gibbs joined Asahi in November 2017 as General Manager Customer Value Chain, with an extensive background in logistics across Australia, India and South-East Asia having spent 13 years at CUB/Fosters.
Amanda and Sandra join the executive leadership team along with Anna Barlow who was appointed Chief Science & Innovation Officer last August.
Margin added: “I’m delighted that we have been able to promote people within our business, as well as recruit extremely capable and experienced people to our leadership team. Our leadership team now has three women (out of eight executives) who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, both within and outside FMCG. Together they will provide diverse, interesting and stimulating perspectives to help challenge and grow our business.
“I look forward to working with the new leadership team as we transition to the future Asahi Beverages Australia/New Zealand organisation, and prepare this business for long-term growth.”
Source: theshout.com.au
