Coors rejigs sales and marketing

Coors Brewers, the owner of the UK’s best-selling lager brand Carling, has rejigged its marketing and sales departments with two new appointments.

Rob Borland has been appointed director of marketing – portfolio. He will be responsible for the Coors Fine Light Beer, Grolsch and Sol lager brands as well as the company’s ale portfolio. He replaces David Preston, who moves to on-trade sales, responsible for London, Scotland and Ireland.

Borland joins the UK marketing team from parent company Molson Coors in the US. He will be based at Coors’ head office in Burton-on-Trent and will report to marketing director Simon Davies.

As part of the restructure, Coors has combined its UK on- and off-trade sales operations, and has appointed John Holberry as sales director for the amalgamated division. His move follows the departure of Kevin Brownsey, Coors off-trade sales director, who has moved to Kellogg as UK sales director.

Holberry has been sales director for Coors on-trade since 2003. Prior to this, he was responsible for the company’s off-trade sales division.

Earlier this year, Coors handed Beattie McGuinness Bungay (BMB) the &£7m Carling business.

Carling is the UK’s best-selling lager brand, with sales of &£150m to &£155m for the 12 months to June 2005 (TNS Superpanel). The total UK lager market was worth &£11.3bn in 2005 (Mintel).