Molson Coors brands -- including Coors Light, Blue Moon, Keystone, Molson Canadian, Rickard's and Carling -- rank among the top performers in their core markets in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. "Dave will be looking for more ways to take our brands global," said Leo Kiely, president and chief executive officer of Molson Coors. "We've already seen how well Coors Light travels in other beer markets, now we want to step-up that focus and look for opportunities for the rest of the portfolio as well."

"In addition to organic growth, Perkins' team will also intensify and expand our efforts to find other value-added growth opportunities around the world," said Kiely. "Molson Coors has demonstrated its ability to create value through partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions-from the Molson Coors merger to the new Modelo JV in Canada to the proposed joint venture with SAB Miller in the U.S. -- and we intend to put that expertise to work in securing the next generation of growth opportunities for our investors."

All of the company's current marketing and field sales operations outside the three core markets will be part of the new global team, including Molson Coors organizations in Asia, Continental Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico). Perkins will also continue to lead the enterprise-wide brand and innovation team, as well as corporate strategy.

"Focusing resources, talent and brand strength on international markets opens up new growth opportunities for us," notes Perkins. "Molson Coors has achieved significant growth and generated substantial shareholder value in recent years through optimization of its core businesses. With a strong brand portfolio and a solid financial foundation, we are poised to grow our business in global markets well beyond where we are today."

Perkins, a 27-year beer industry veteran, has served as global chief commercial officer since the merger of Molson and Coors in 2005. In this role, he has been one of the key leaders responsible for the company's global partnerships, the proposed joint venture with SAB Miller in the U.S., and expansion of Molson Coors brands into global markets. Previous executive roles include chief market development officer for Molson Canada and president of Molson USA.

"Dave's a genuine beer guy who brings a lot of brand-building experience to his new position, plus a keen sense of where the next opportunities are going to be for us," according to Kiely. "With his leadership, we expect to make the most of our very competitive position in the global beer business."

From the March 17, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash