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New Foster’s CEO announced

SABMiller, the company that recently acquired Foster’s has appointed a new chief executive for the brewer’s Australian operations.

Ari Mervis, managing director of SABMiller Asia, who was the sponsor of the acquisition, will take on the position on Friday.

His role will include managing the integration of Foster’s into the SABMiller group.

Mervis is replacing Foster’s current chief executive, John Pollaers, who said in a statement the merger will make the company more successful.

“The past two years have seen big changes within the business and I am proud to have led the company through this period.

”The demerger of the wine business, a significant restructure, and the re-launch of the iconic Carlton and United Breweries brand have allowed this business to believe in itself again and succeed.”

In September SABMiller bought Foster’s following a three month process of opposition and denials from Australia’s largest brewer that it needed help.

Despite the lowest sales profits in two decades, Fosters said at the time it remained optimistic about the future.

It rejected SABMiller’s offer of $4.90 per share, saying it undervalued the company and just one week prior to the approved deal, the company chairman urged shareholders to reject the London-based company’s bid.

The SABMiller takeover of Foster’s will make Coopers the largest remaining Australian-owned brewer.

While Foster’s agreed to a change to its long history of brewery ownership, it will revert back to old habits with plans to open a Port Melbourne brew pub to the public in the new year.

The multi-million dollar scheme is part of the company’s move to carve out a place in the ever-increasing craft beer market, according to The Australian Financial Review.

The Matilda Bay Brewery would be the first in a national rollout of similar operations for the company, but SABMiller could decide to halt or even completely abandon the strategy.

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