InBev Announces North American Leadership Team of Combined Anheuser-Busch InBev

09 Oct 2008

09/10/08 InBev has announced the appointments of Luiz Fernando Edmond and David A. Peacock to the North American leadership team of Anheuser-Busch InBev, to become effective upon the closing of the combination of Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev.

Upon close of the transaction, Luiz Fernando Edmond will become Zone President North America, and David A. Peacock will become president of Anheuser-Busch. As previously announced, St. Louis will be the North American headquarters for the combined company and the global home of the flagship Budweiser brand. Both executives will be based in St. Louis.

InBev and Anheuser-Busch announced a definitive merger agreement on July 13, 2008, which is subject to Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev shareholder approvals and review by competition authorities in a number of jurisdictions. InBev shareholders approved the transaction on 29 September. The appointments are effective upon closure of the transaction, which is expected by yearend 2008.

As Zone President North America, Luiz Fernando will oversee all of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s operations in the United States and Canada. He currently serves as InBev’s Zone President Latin America North and AmBev’s Chief Executive Officer, positions that he has held since January 2005. Since joining AmBev in 1990 as a trainee, Luiz Fernando has held various positions in the distribution, commercial and supply departments. Prior to his current role, he was Sales Officer, a position he held from 2002 to 2004. He has an engineering degree from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

Luiz Fernando’s current position at InBev and AmBev will be filled by Joao Castro Neves, who currently serves as InBev’s Zone President Latin America South. The incumbent Zone President for North America, Bernardo Pinto Paiva, will move from Canada to Argentina to become Zone President Latin America South, replacing Joao.

As president of Anheuser-Busch, David Peacock will manage all U.S. operations for the combined company, including the brand management of Budweiser and Bud Light. He will assume this position after having served as Vice President of Marketing of Anheuser- Busch Incorporated and Chief Executive Officer of Wholesaler Equity Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. David, a native of St. Louis who began working for Anheuser-Busch in 1992, has held positions in corporate planning, brand management, corporate media and retail sales promotion. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas University and his master’s in business administration from Washington University.

Commenting on the appointments, Carlos Brito, InBev’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “I’m extremely pleased to announce these two critical appointments to the team that will lead the North American zone of the new Anheuser-Busch InBev. Luiz Fernando has been an integral part of InBev’s management team since its inception, and under his leadership our Latin American business has thrived. His strong leadership, international experience and familiarity with our company make him uniquely qualified for this position within Anheuser-Busch InBev.”