News

Crisp Malt gains new beer-loving boss

11 February 2022 By Jessica Mason

Anglia Maltings (Holdings) has appointed a new chief executive officer, Stuart Sands, who has experience and love of the US craft beer scene.

The appointment follows the death of its former leader David Thompson who sadly passed away last July and had a huge impact on the malt industry and its connections to the beer scene.

The group, which comprises Crisp Malt, EDME and Micronized Food Products, welcomes Sands to fulfil Thompson’s legacy as well as bring his own skills, ethos and ambitions to the role. As a chartered accountant with an MBA and extensive leadership skills, Sands is set to bring strategic skills, energy and experience to the position.

Sands said: “I’ve joined a fantastic business with great people, and am really looking forward to working with them to see just how much more we can achieve for our customers. It’ll be an exciting challenge for us to take the already-strong customer support to new levels. That’s as well as driving forward on our sustainability goals and the innovation work with the ingredients we produce.”

He brings with him a raft of experience of the malt industry in the US, having worked with the Country Malt Group for five and a half years – first as director of finance, then general manager. During his tenure, the group served the American craft brewing industry and over 10,000 of its members.

Sands pointed out that, as well as a malt expert he is, at heart, a true beer fan and said: “Five and a half years living in Portland definitely fuelled my enthusiasm for craft beers. It’s not for nothing that it’s known as the craft beer capital of America.”

He added: “I’ve joined a company with a century and a half of tradition and heritage. That’s a contrast to Country Malt Group’s mere 25 years of operating. There are lessons from the success of the new kid on the block and we’ll be drawing on some of those as we investigate opportunities for the business. We’ll be paying particular attention to the ones that help us deliver more for our customers. With our terrific team members, supportive investors and expert suppliers, those opportunities should be a-plenty. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with them.”