USA: Miller Brewing Company announced on April 7 it has appointed Tom Long as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. A 16-year veteran of the Coca-Cola Company, Long is currently president of Coca-Cola's Northwest European Division, which includes Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Long has served in several senior marketing and sales roles for the soft drink company, including as Vice-President of Strategic Marketing, with global responsibility for managing the company's entire brand portfolio. He also served as Coca-Cola's head of Worldwide Marketing Insights and Research.

"Tom is a strong, decisive leader and his mandate is to take our marketing capability to the next level," said Miller President and CEO Norman Adami. Long succeeds marketing EVP Bob Mikulay, who is retiring after 30 years of service with Miller and its former corporate parent, Philip Morris. "We made significant progress with our marketing during Bob's tenure, particularly with the rejuvenation of Miller Lite," said Adami. "He has been a great friend to many of us at Miller, and we wish him the very best." A native of North Carolina, Long will join Miller on July 1, after fulfilling his notice obligation to Coca-Cola, as mandated by European law. "I am coming to Miller because I think it is one of the single best opportunities in the business world today," said Long.

Until then, Charlie Frenette will serve as Interim Chief Marketing Officer. Frenette is also a former Coca-Cola executive, having served as the company's Chief Marketing Officer and the head of European operations. Frenette currently serves on the Miller board of directors, and has provided extensive guidance to the brewer as an independent consultant.

"Charlie understands our business extremely well, and has played a major role in our progress over the past year and a half," said Adami. "He will ensure that we have a very productive transition and that we keep a strong focus heading into the important summer selling season."

Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Company is the oldest major brewer in America, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2005. Miller is a wholly owned subsidiary of SABMiller plc, one of the world's largest brewers. Miller's principal beer brands are Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life. The company imports Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Foster's and has craft brews Leinenkugel's and Henry Weinhard's. Its portfolio of brands also includes Milwaukee's Best and Sharp's, a non-alcohol brew. Miller produces Icehouse from the Plank Road Brewery, a small division of Miller; Olde English 800; and Mickey's Malt Liquor.

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