Labatt UK’s Donoghue dies, aged 42

Labatt Brewing UK’s managing director Pat Donoghue has died of cancer, aged 42, after a long illness.

Donoghue joined Labatt in June 1994 after working at Holsten Distributors, where he was also md.

He continued working at Labatt’s until shortly before Christmas, even though he was ill. Donoghue leaves a wife and two young children.

He joined Holsten from Grand Metropolitan Brewing, where he was sales director. He made the change-over from a sales background to general management and has been described as “one of the most popular men in the brewing industry”.

Former colleague Carol Fisher, who worked with Donoghue as marketing director at Holsten, says: “It is tragic. Pat was an inspirational manager and a positive man.”