East Africa Breweries boss resigns

The managing director of Kenya-based East African Breweries (EABL), Devlin Hainsworth, will resign from the company at the end of March, after just eight months in the position.

In a statement EABL, which is a subsidiary of Diageo, said that Mr Hainsworth was leaving “in order to pursue other interests outside of EABL and Diageo”. Hainsworth has spent 14 years at Diageo holding various positions including managing director for Guinness Nigeria and Guinness Ghana.

The announcement came one week after EABL announced a 14% drop in its half-year net profit.

The statement also said that Hainsworth will be replaced by Charles Ireland, the managing director of Guinness Anchor Berhad, a joint venture between Diageo and Asia Pacific Breweries.

Mr Ireland has worked for Diageo since 1997 holding several positions including customer marketing director, general manager Philippines and commercial director Asia.

The statement added: “The Chairman and the Board of EABL wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr Devlin Hainsworth for his contribution to the business, and to warmly welcome Mr Charles Ireland to the business and to East Africa.”