Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev today announced the appointments of Luiz Fernando Edmond and David Peacock to the North American leadership team of Anheuser-Busch InBev, to become effective upon the closing of the combination of the two companies.
Upon close of the transaction, Luiz Fernando Edmond will become Zone President North America, and David Peacock will become president of Anheuser-Busch. Both executives will be based in St. Louis, which will be the new North American headquarters for the combined company and the global home of the flagship Budweiser brand.
InBev and Anheuser-Busch announced a definitive merger agreement on July 13, which is subject to Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev shareholder approvals and review by competition authorities in a number of jurisdictions. InBev shareholders approved the transaction on Sept. 29. The appointments are effective upon closure of the transaction, which is expected by year's end.
As Zone President North America, Edmond will oversee all of Anheuser-Busch InBev's operations in the United States and Canada. He currently serves as InBev's Zone President Latin America North and AmBev's CEO, positions that he has held since January 2005.
Since joining AmBev in 1990 as a trainee, he has held various positions in the distribution, commercial and supply departments. Prior to his current role, he was Sales Officer, a position he held from 2002-2004. He has an engineering degree from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
Excited to take on this role at our company, Edmond said he is looking forward to working with Peacock in his new position to ensure that the integration between these two great companies is as smooth as possible.
"I have tremendous respect for the Anheuser-Busch brands and the history and heritage behind them, and am eager to work with my colleagues to preserve the quality and leading legacy of these brands in North America," he added.
As president of Anheuser-Busch, Peacock will manage all U.S. operations for the combined company, including the brand management of Budweiser and Bud Light. He will assume this position after having served as vice president of marketing of Anheuser-Busch Inc. and CEO of Wholesaler Equity Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc.
Peacock, a native of St. Louis who began working for Anheuser-Busch in 1992, has held positions in corporate planning, brand management, corporate media and retail sales promotion. He received his bachelor's degree in journalism from Kansas University and his master's in business administration from Washington University.
Peacock stated that he has witnessed firsthand in the United States how InBev and Anheuser-Busch can work together successfully to the benefit of consumers and wholesalers.
"Over the last several months, I have spent a significant amount of time with the InBev team, and now feel even more confident that we can work together effectively to create new opportunities for all of our stakeholders," Peacock said. "I am proud to take on this new role at our combined company and lead Anheuser-Busch in the United States going forward."
InBev CEO Carlos Brito is also pleased to announce these two critical appointments to the team that will lead the North American zone of the new Anheuser-Busch InBev. He noted that Edmond has been an integral part of InBev's management team since its inception, and under his leadership our Latin American business has thrived. And, that he believes Peacock is the ideal person to lead the Anheuser-Busch U.S. operations going forward as part of Anheuser-Busch InBev.
"[Luiz's] strong leadership, international experience and familiarity with our company make him uniquely qualified for this position within Anheuser-Busch InBev," Brito said. "And Dave's knowledge of Anheuser-Busch's brands, as well as the people and process behind the brands, will prove invaluable to the successful integration of these two leading global brewers, and I look forward to our continued work together when he assumes his new role."
