AB InBev North America
Carlos Brito will be succeeded by Michel Doukeris. Credit: Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Brito has been associated with AB InBev for more than three decades and served as the company’s CEO for 15 years.

Michel Doukeris, whose appointment is effective 1 July 2021, has also been unanimously elected to the company’s board of directors.

Brito said: “I am very proud of being part of this team of 164,000 colleagues around the world that have been on our journey.

“It has been an honour and privilege to work with such a talented group of individuals as we built this global company based on strong values and our unwavering commitment to excellence, quality, consumers and communities.

“I am very excited about the future of our business under Michel’s leadership and congratulate him on the appointment as CEO of this amazing company.”

Doukeris, who joined AB InBev in 1996, led the brewer’s business in both China and Asia-Pacific before taking over the responsibility of the North American unit.

The North American arm of the business said to contribute approximately a third of group sales.

Doukeris said: “I am honoured and humbled by the opportunity to lead AB InBev and to continue our company’s legacy of exceptional leadership and value creation.

“Throughout my career at AB InBev, I have had the privilege to lead our business in different regions of the world and to work alongside the industry’s most talented and passionate colleagues every step of the way.

“I look forward to bringing a fresh perspective that builds on our consumer-first mindset and drives innovation and transformation in this next exciting stage.”

AB InBev said that a new leader for the North America Zone will be announced before 1 July 2021.