Management changes announced at DB Breweries

This is a supplied media release.

DB Breweries today announced senior management changes which sees Managing Director, Andy Routley, called to Amsterdam to take on a new role within The HEINEKEN Company, as Managing Director B2B Europe. Peter Simons, currently Managing Director of HEINEKEN Hanoi, has been appointed as Managing Director taking over from Andy from 21 August.

Andy Routley joined DB Breweries in 2013, shortly after the organisation become a wholly owned subsidiary of HEINEKEN. Under his leadership, DB, and Australian subsidiary Drinkworks, have successfully delivered a consistently strong commercial performance, talent development & employee engagement programmes.

Frans Eusman, President HEINEKEN Asia Pacific says, “Andy has led DB from strength to strength over the past four years. His approach to innovation across the entire business has seen him champion bold and award-winning marketing campaigns such as DB Export Brewtroleum and Tui Catch-A-Million, as well as achieving some of the highest levels of NPD across the HEINEKEN business globally.

He also led the recent acquisition of Tuatara Brewing Company and the development of New Zealand as one of two Cider Centres of Excellence for HEINEKEN.”

Peter Simons brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to DB, having joined HEINEKEN in 1991 as part of the Netherlands sales organisation. Since then, he’s held a number of Commercial and Management roles across the world, including management of joint venture businesses with SAB and Diageo, GM of Export for Central & Eastern Europe and most recently as Managing Director of HEINEKEN’s Hanoi-based Vietnamese Operating Company. His appointment sees the further blending of top quality Kiwi talent with international expertise, across DB’s Leadership Team.

“DB is a business that consistently delivers ahead of expectations within the HEINEKEN Group,” says Simons. “From its innovation rates, to creative marketing activations, supply chain processes, sales execution and excellent talent pool, DB continues to get noticed on a global stage. I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a well-regarded organisation, and look forward to building on the successes of Andy and the DB team.” 

Routley adds, “In many ways I will be extremely sad to leave this great company, its people and our partners, as well as this beautiful country. In the four and a half years since I arrived at DB, I’ve learnt the huge value of courageous innovation, smart entrepreneurship and in not being afraid to have a go. I am looking forward to trying to emulate this wonderful spirit in another part of the world. My new role at HEINEKEN Europe is very exciting given the huge ambition the company has for e-commerce and the inevitable new challenges it will represent. I’d like to thank everyone at DB Breweries for their spirit and commitment to a culture that matches some of the best organisations in the world. Together, we have created a world class reputation for DB in so many areas.”