Carlsberg UK has appointed Benet Slay, formerly Managing Director, Northern
Europe for Diageo, as its new chief executive. Benet, will join Carlsberg UK on
1st March.
Jesper Friis, Senior Vice President for Carlsberg Western Europe, who has been
acting as interim CEO for Carlsberg UK, commented:
"We are really pleased that Benet is joining us. He has an extensive knowledge
of our industry; a deep-rooted understanding of both on- and off-trade
dynamics; has an excellent track record in delivering customer- and
consumer-led strategies; and has launched many successful innovations.
He is also passionate about managing and motivating people and has been
personally involved in a series of important responsibility initiatives on
behalf of Drinkaware, Portman Group and the British Beer and Pub Association.
I am confident that Benet will be a great asset both to the UK business and to
the wider Carlsberg Group."
Benet Slay added: "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work
with such a customer focused team and such a well-known portfolio of brands in
the UK. Carlsberg UK is an important part of the Group's business and I look
forward to building on the momentum the team in the UK have achieved in the
last few years."
Having initially qualified as a management accountant while at Unilever, Benet
worked for PepsiCo between 1991-2004, during which time he worked in Southern
Europe, the USA, was GM PepsiCo Portugal and spent eight years with Walkers
Snack Foods in various senior Commercial and Business Development roles. He
subsequently became Managing Director of Diageo GB's on- and off-trade
businesses before becoming Managing Director for the full Diageo GB business in
2006. More recently, between 2009-11, Benet was Managing Director, Diageo
Northern Europe, responsible for the P&L and commercial activities across ten
countries. Benet is one of the founding trustees of the Drinkaware Trust.
Note to Editors
Jesper Friis has been acting as interim CEO for Carlsberg UK since 1 December
2011, when Isaac Sheps started in his new position as CEO Baltika Breweries
with regional responsibility for Carlsberg's operations across Eastern Europe.
Contacts:
Ben Morton (Group): +45 2278 1417
Joanna Dring (UK): +44 1604 668221 Mob: +44 7887 796292, t: @jo_dring