New York, 3 March 2010 - Heineken Americas and FEMSA announced today their intent to make strategic senior management appointments for the Mexican beer business pending approval of Heineken's acquisition of FEMSA Cerveza in the second quarter of 2010.
Jorge Luis Ramos Santos, currently Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Cerveza, will be appointed Deputy Regional President for Heineken Americas, the company's regional business unit. In this strategic management position, Mr. Ramos Santos will play a key role in supporting the integration of the combined business entity and will continue to oversee Sivesa and Famosa, FEMSA Cerveza's packaging operations in Mexico. Ramos Santos will also assume specific responsibilities to drive business development opportunities for Heineken across the Americas region, which includes North, Latin and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. Additionally, Ramos Santos will continue to lead the Company's corporate and government affairs activities in Mexico and will be a key advisor to Heineken's regional management team on the regulatory, sustainability and economic interests for the combined business in this key growth market for Heineken.
Heineken also announced its intent to appoint Michiel Herkemij to succeed Ramos Santos pending completion of the acquisition. Herkemij is currently the Managing Director for Nigerian Breweries plc, one of Heineken's Nigerian operating companies and the largest company in Nigeria per market capitalisation. Herkemij will join the Mexican business having successfully led since 2007 the growth of one of Heineken's most successful operations and a career managing operations for a number of leading consumer goods businesses around the world.
Said John Nicolson, Regional President, Heineken Americas of the appointments, "I am pleased to welcome Jorge Luis to the Heineken Americas management team and Michiel to the Americas region. Jorge Luis will bring to our business a critical understanding of the dynamics, opportunities and challenges for Heineken in Mexico and Latin America more broadly and I look forward to working with him to unlock the strong potential for our combined portfolio and people pending the completion of the deal. Additionally, Michiel will bring to the Mexican business great management and leadership experience having led one of Heineken's largest and fastest growing operations. I am confident in the success these individuals will have in their new roles and I look forward to soon working with Jorge Luis, his management team and Michiel to ensure we successfully integrate and leverage the power of CCM's people, brands and relationships for the long-term."
Ramos Santos assumed his current position in January 2006 after serving as Co-Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Cerveza since 2003. He joined FEMSA in 1996 as FEMSA Cerveza's Human Resources Vice-President, a position he held until 1999, when he became FEMSA Cerveza's Commercial Vice-President for Southern Mexico. Between 1978 and 1996, he held executive positions in different corporations and financial institutions, including ALFA and Grupo Financiero Serfín. Ramos Santos will remain in Monterrey upon assuming his new role.
Herkemij joined Heineken as Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries plc in 2007. A native of the Netherlands, he began his career in the Royal Netherlands Navy before moving into consumer banking with Management and Commercial roles with ABN AMRO and Rabo Bank in The Netherlands. Herkemij also held senior Management roles with British American Tobacco in the UK, Belgium, Spain and Portugal before serving as Managing Director Royal Friesland Campina in Greater China and in Nigeria. A native of The Netherlands fluent in Dutch, English and Spanish, Herkemij will relocate to Monterrey, Mexico in the coming months.
Herkemij will be permanently succeeded in Nigeria by Nico Vervelde, currently Managing Director for Heineken Caribbean, Central & Latin America. Mr. Vervelde joined the Heineken organisation in 1984 and has since held increasingly senior Management positions with the business, with Commercial and General Manager posts in Heineken Netherlands, the Bahamas and Rwanda. Vervelde was appointed Deputy Director, then Director for Heineken's African & Middle East region before assuming the role of General Manager for Heineken Ireland prior to his current appointment. Vervelde's successor will be announced in due course. Paul Hamers, who has played a central role with Nigeria Breweries in various capacities since joining the business in 1971, will act as interim Managing Director for Nigerian Breweries plc until Vervelde's transition. Hamers currently serves on the Board of the Nigerian business as non-executive Director.
As a result of the extensive insight gained into the business during the due diligence process, combined with Heineken's broad experience in the field, a rapid completion of the integration of Heineken and FEMSA Cerveza is expected.
The leadership appointments in the Americas, Nigeria and Mexico are all pending the approval and completion of the transaction.
Editorial information:
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