Jan-Renier Swinkels passes on the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Swinkels Family Brewers

• Jan-Renier Swinkels is resigning as chairman of the Board of Directors after 12 years. In doing so, he's relinquishing his active role within Swinkels Family Brewers after a career of 33 years leaving behind a beautiful business.
• Under the leadership of Jan-Renier Swinkels, Swinkels Family Brewers experienced a substantial growth in past years. Jan-Renier is resigning at a high point in the company’s history; the 300-year anniversary of Brewery Bavaria, which will be celebrated at the end of March.
• Having made this decision, Jan-Renier is giving the family brewery space for progression and innovation and will pass on the baton to his cousin Peer Swinkels on 17 April 2019.

 

Swinkels Family Brewers Holding N.V. today announces the departure of Jan-Renier Swinkels who will pass on the chairmanship of the Board of Directors to Peer Swinkels after a period of more than 12 years. In doing so, Jan-Renier is giving the family brewery space for progression and innovation. Under his leadership, substance was given to the strategy that focused on growth, international expansion and the expansion of the portfolio. The approaching 300-year anniversary of Brewery Bavaria represents a wonderful high point for the current chairman of the Board of Directors and the perfect moment for him to stop. The appointment of Peer Swinkels as CEO will come into effect on 17 April.

Passing on the family business in an even better state

Jan-Renier has led the company for more than 12 years and successfully so. In past years Swinkels Family Brewers has grown substantially due to, among other things, the takeovers of Breweries Palm, De Hoorn and Rodenbach, the expansion of Holland Malt, the development of Brewery Habesha in Ethiopia and the recent takeovers of Bier&cO and Brewery De Molen.

“For me this represents the perfect moment to pass on the baton as we are about to celebrate the 300-year anniversary of Brewery Bavaria and me having been given the opportunity to lead this beautiful family business for more than 12 years. During my career at the company I was able to give further substance to the growth strategy and experienced many highlights, such as the takeover of Palm, the expansion of Holland Malt, the development of Habesha and, last but not least, our name change to Swinkels Family Brewers, a name that beautifully underlines our strategy and connects all the brands. I am, therefore, incredibly proud of where we are today. As a family business you will remain successful provided you make way for others at the right moment in time. I have all faith in Peer as my successor and expect the company to be facing a beautiful future under his leadership,” states Jan-Renier Swinkels.

Peer Swinkels (44) has been part of the Board of Directors of Swinkels Family Brewers since 2004, primarily in his role as Chief Commercial Officer. Through this transference, Jan-Renier will end his active career within Swinkels Family Brewers and will, in addition to a number of existing supervisory directorships, put his knowledge and experience to use outside the family brewery. 

Ready for the future

This change in leadership also results in an adjustment in the structure of the Board of Directors. The collegiate model of governance is succeeded by a CEO model with a two-man Executive Board. Together with the CFO, who is currently being recruited, Peer Swinkels, as CEO, will manage the three divisions (Holland Malt, Swinkels Family Brewers N.V. and the 60% participation in Habesha) that will all be given more autonomy within this new structure.