SABMiller today revealed that its executive chairman Graham Mackay is being treated for a brain tumour, and had surgery yesterday.
The brewing giant has moved forward the appointment of its new chief executive as a result.
The firm's chief operating officer, Alan Clark, was due to succeed Mackay as chief executive in July this year, but the board have decided to accelerate Clark’s promotion.
SABMiller’s deputy chairman John Manser praised Mackay for his “immense contribution to making SABMiller what it is today”, and said the board’s thoughts and prayers are with Mackay and his family.
South African Mackay has been chief executive of SABMiller, which makes beers such as Peroni and Pilsner Urquell, since its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1999, and is also the brewer’s executive chairman.
The brewer said Manser will become acting chairman while Mackay receives treatment.
Mackay said in a note to employees that SABMiller would be in “excellent hands” once Clark took over the chief executive role.
He said he was “inexpressibly proud” of the company, adding: “I certainly do not expect there to be any impact from this development on [SABMiller’s] operations or strategic direction, which will continue to run as normal.”
