Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has revealed management and organisational changes as part of a two-year transition phase as the group targets a return to mid-single digit earnings per share growth from 2020.
In detailing the organisational changes, Group Managing Director, Alison Watkins, said the moves would further integrate beverage categories across each country and see them managed in line with geographical responsibilities.
This means that the Australian-based alcohol and coffee portfolios will join the Australian Beverages team under the leadership of Peter West.
Further alcohol and coffee in New Zealand, Paradise Beverages in Fiji and Samoa, and the international alcohol sales team, will join the New Zealand and Fiji businesses under the leadership of Chris Litchfield, and the coffee portfolio in Indonesia will be part of the Indonesian business under the leadership of Kadir Gunduz.
That change to the Australian Alcohol and Coffee business, means that its Managing Director, Shane Richardson will leave CCA after five years with the business. Watkins paid tribute to the work Richardson has done in his time with the business, and the strong performance of the Alcohol and Coffee business.
“We will report on the Alcohol & Coffee segment for the 2019 financial year and we expect it to maintain its revenue and growth targets. This performance will continue to be driven by our customer and brand partner accountability combined with our world class spirits, beer and coffee capability,” Watkins said
“Our progress and achievements in these categories are a great credit to outgoing Alcohol & Coffee Managing Director Shane Richardson who has led the business since 2014 and who will now be leaving Amatil.
“Shane is a recognised leader in the beverages industry and has brought tremendous drive and energy over his almost six years with us. We owe him deep gratitude for his outstanding leadership of Alcohol & Coffee, and for his dedication to brand partners, customers, consumers and the portfolio.
“The results under Shane’s leadership have been remarkable, more than doubling the business’ profits over the last five years, establishing a highly successful business today and setting us up for strong performance well into the future.
“On behalf of Coca-Cola Amatil we thank Shane and wish him all the best for the future.”
Richardson said he was very proud of what he and the entire Alcohol & Coffee team had achieved together over the last five years.
“It’s been a delight to lead this incredibly talented team who continue to challenge themselves as they work towards delivering five consecutive years of double-digit profit growth,” Mr Richardson said.
“I am very proud that we have taken the business from four per cent of Amatil earnings to almost ten per cent in this short time. It is now a good time for me to look for my next challenge, knowing the team and the business is in great shape. I wish them every continued success in the future.”
Speaking on the overall changes, Watkins said they will deliver further synergies between the non-alcohol, alcohol and coffee categories, and build on the existing integration in parts of the business including shared operations and sales teams in Australia and the structure in New Zealand.
“Our partnerships with Beam Suntory, Molson Coors International, Caffitaly and other brand partners, together with our Amatil owned brands such as Grinders and Feral, put us in a strong position in the alcohol and coffee categories, and we expect that to continue,” Watkins said.
“We’ve also worked closely with The Coca-Cola Company to implement the Australian Accelerated Growth Plan which sees our Australian Beverages business positioned for growth from 2020.
“With the conclusion of our two-year transition phase at the end of 2019, now is the right time to further integrate these businesses and use this new model to drive further growth for Amatil and our brand partners.”
Watkins said these changes did not affect Amatil’s portfolio range, availability or any current or projected growth plans for the alcohol and coffee categories.