Unilever's de Vaux joins SABMiller to head India unit

BANGALORE: The brewing giant SABMiller will have a new helmsman in India. Richard Rushton, who spearheaded domestic operations for nearly five years, is moving on to the global brewer’s South American business.

In a statement from London, SABMiller announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Delpon de Vaux as the new Managing Director. Mr Vaux is a new face in the SABMiller system having joined from Unilever in April this year. The new MD will assume office on August 1.

“It has been a good tenure in which SABMiller had some fairly significant achievements,” Mr Rushton told ET. “The market is growing well, and we have a good foundation for a solid future. I am happy about it, but also sad about leaving. I have had great support from the team who did a remarkable job,” he said.

During Mr Rushton’s innings, SABMiller emerged as India’s second largest brewer with 33% market share following the acquisition of Shaw Wallace Breweries. He was applauded for effecting seamless integration of Shaw Wallace operations with that of SABMiller in a short span of time.

Mr Rushton played a key role in establishing a rapport between SABMiller and the largest domestic player, United Breweries (UB), to push for industry reforms, while not compromising the marketplace slugfest between the two brewers. The Indian beer market, growing at robust double-digits, ending FY’06 with 108 million cases (of 7.8 litre each).

The new man, Mr Vaux has been the Chairman & CEO of Unilever, Pakistan, and more recently headed Lever Faberge, France. Andre Parker, President, SABMiller International, said he was delighted to welcome Mr Vaux who brings with him a wealth of management experience in FMCG sector from an array of markets.