C&C Group, the owner of brands such as Tennent’s and Bulmers, has appointed David Forde as its new Chief Executive Officer.
He joins the company from Heineken where he has served as Managing Director of the brewer’s UK business for the past seven years. Forde will join C&C at the latest in early 2021, following the completion of a notice period.
The group’s former boss, Stephen Glancey, retired back in January after eight years in the role.
C&C also today named Patrick McMahon, its current Group Strategy Director, as Chief Financial Officer. He is replacing the retiring Jonathan Solesbury who has served in the position since 2017.
Forde has worked for Heineken for 32 years after starting his career with its Sales & Marketing team in Ireland, before working in the Netherlands and then Poland, where he was Marketing Director. He was appointed General Manager of Heineken UK in 2007 and played a key role in brewers acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle in 2008 and the subsequent integration of the two businesses. In 2009, Forde returned to Heineken Ireland as Managing Director, before taking on his current UK role in 2013.
Stewart Gilliland, C&C’s interim Executive Chairman, said Forde was appointed as he had the “requisite blend of brands, distribution and pub sector expertise to maximise the potential of our iconic brands and optimise the potential of our distribution capabilities.”
He added: “In Paddy, we have a Group CFO with an inimitable understanding and experience of our business. His progression through senior leadership positions within the business and integral role in the transformative Matthew Clark and Bibendum transaction make him the natural successor to Jonathan and ideal fit for this position.”
Gilliland is set to continue in his executive Chairman role until Forde joins C&C. He will then revert to the role of non-executive Chairman.
C&C has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. It temporarily laid off the majority of its workforce, cut salaries and pulled its final dividend in an effort cope with the drop in demand for its beer & cider brands and drink distribution services for pubs and restaurants during the lockdown.
