JOHN Dunsmore, the chief executive of Irish drinks group C&C, bolstered his board yesterday with the appointment of former Scottish & Newcastle executive Kenny Neison to the post of strategy chief.
Neison is among a number of former S&N executives to have joined C&C, the makers of Magners, since Dunsmore – himself a former S&N man – took the helm last year.
He said: "We are delighted that Kenny has joined the board of C&C. Kenny has a wealt
h of experience … and he has made a significant contribution to the group's development since he joined C&C last November."
In August, Dunsmore splashed out £180 million for Scotland's best-selling lager, Tennent's. Dublin-based C&C said the deal would strengthen the distribution opportunities for Magners cider in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
C&C also makes leading Irish cider brand Bulmers and exports several spirits and liqueurs, including the Irish whiskey Tullamore Dew.
It is currently battling to improve its performance after Magners' sales disappointed last year following strong growth in earlier years.
The Tennent's business sponsors Scotland's national football team and the country's largest outdoor music festival, T in the Park.
The news comes just weeks after the British Beer & Pub Association published its Quarterly Beer Barometer, showing a sharp slowing of the decline in beer sales. Sales fell by 0.8 per cent in the third quarter, down from the 4.8 per cent fall in the second quarter.
Sales in supermarkets and shops rose by 4.4 per cent in the third quarter, while sales in the on-trade – pubs and bars – fell by 4.7 per cent.
