Scottish Courage chief nets take-home role

Scottish Courage ales director Brian Sharp, who heads the consumer marketing for brands such as Newcastle Brown Ale and John Smith’s, is to take overall charge of marketing at the beer giant’s take-home arm, Scottish Courage Brands.

Sharp replaces Nick Boyd, who left at the end of last month for a job outside the industry. The job of brand director for ales, which Sharp has held since the merger between Scottish & Newcastle and Courage in August 1995, goes to Steve McCarney, who joined SC in April from South African Breweries.

At ScotCo Brands, Sharp will be responsible for marketing the company’s extensive portfolio of brands to the take-home trade – supermarkets, off-licences and corner shops.

Before the merger, he worked for Scottish & Newcastle as brand director, and joined the merged marketing team headed by Courage marketing director John Nicolson. The entire top team has now moved on to more senior positions.

Nicolson moved up to a strategic role in parent company S&N in a shake-up last month. He is being replaced by Collin Wood, previously responsible for northern pub sales.

Simon Rhodes, brands director for lagers, left in April to join healthcare company PPP. He has been replaced by Maurice Breen, previously of Matthew Gloag, the company responsible for Famous Grouse.