Anheuser-Busch InBev has tapped Andy Thomas as president of its Brewers Collective business unit (BCBU), the division that contains A-B’s craft brands, effective today.
In addition to craft brands A-B has developed or acquired, BCBU also contains the craft breweries that comprised the Craft Brew Alliance (CBA), which Thomas led as CEO before CBA and A-B’s merger was completed last year.
“Building amazing brands for the right consumers on the right occasions is at the core of who we are at Anheuser-Busch and will remain a top priority moving forward,” Brendan Whitworth, CEO of A-B’s North America operations, said in a press release. “Andy’s appointment reinforces this commitment. His deep understanding of craft beer drinkers, strong relationships within the craft community, and proven track record driving long-term growth will help accelerate our momentum and the growth of the overall craft category.”
Prior to this promotion, Thomas served as the general manager of Kona Brewing Company, Omission Balanced Brewing and BCBU’s east region brands, which include Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Co., Cisco Brewers, Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Platform Beer Co., Veza Sur Brewing Co., Wicked Weed Brewing, and Wynwood Brewing Co.
Thomas succeeds former BCBU president Marcelo “Mika” Michaelis, who has held the role since October 2018. Michaelis has been appointed president of Labatt, which A-B produces and sells in Canada.
With Thomas’ promotion, A-B will reorganize BCBU under U.S. chief commercial officer Kyle Norrington, “as part of Anheuser-Busch’s broader efforts to better align its commercial teams and operations,” the release said.
“The continued success of Brewers Collective is essential to our overall commercial strategy,”
Norrington said in the release. “As consumer tastes and preferences evolve, I look forward to working with Andy as we double down on our craft portfolio to provide a diverse mix of high-quality, premium craft options for all customers.”
Prior to joining CBA, which he led as CEO for six years, Thomas spent 12 years at Heineken and led the company’s U.S. operations as president and CEO from 2005-2007.
“It is an incredible honor to be named the next President of A-B’s Brewers Collective,” Thomas said in the release. “My passion for the craft beer industry and my belief in a culture of collaboration, combined with the strong bonds I have forged with our amazing craft partners, makes this opportunity incredibly special.
“I want to congratulate Mika on his move to Labatt and thank Brendan for his support,” he continued. “I am confident that together with our wholesaler partners we will continue delighting craft beer drinkers by driving even more innovation and growth within the craft segment.”
In addition to the breweries in the east division, BCBU includes national brands Goose Island, Elysian, Virtue Cider and Golden Road. Its western division, led by general manager Christine Perich, includes 10 Barrel, Breckenridge Brewery, Four Peaks, Karbach, Redhook, Widmer Brothers and Square Mile Cider.