#JustIn: Sven Thieme, others resign from NamBrew board

Business icon Sven Thieme has resigned from the board of Namibia Breweries Ltd, following Heineken N.V. taking control of the local beer giant on Friday.

After over a century as an iconic company in which Namibians had the largest say, Heineken N.V. - the world’s second-largest brewer - officially became the majority shareholder in NamBrew on Friday.

Heineken now owns all of NBL Investment Holdings (NBLIH), which owns 59.4% of the shares in NamBrew on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). The Dutch beer giant acquired Ohlthaver & List’s (O&L) 50.01% stake in NBLIH in a multi-billion transaction, having already owned 49.99%. Thieme is the chairman of O&L.

Thieme’s resignation became effective on Friday.

Other NBL directors who resigned on Friday are: Wessie van der Westhuizen, Peter Gruttemeyer, Laura McLeod-Katjirua, Steven Lucien Marie Siemer, Gunther Hanke and Pascal Sabrie.

The new board of directors of NamBrew are: Hans Bruno Gerdes, Vetumbuavi Junius Mungunda, Afra Schimming-Chase, Roland Jacques M Pirmez (Ecuyer), Jan Jonathan Durand, Jordi Borrut Bel, Yeliz Yedikardesler, Kevin Santry, Amos Jerobeam Hingashipwa Shiyuka, Martina Kebiditsemang Mokgatle, Waldemar von Lieres und Wilkau and Petrus Maria Johannes Simons.

Simons was also appointed as the new managing director of NBL, effective Friday. He replaces Marco Wenk.

Simons has held various senior executive roles within the Heineken Group in South Africa, Vietnam and New Zealand during his long career at Heineken, NamBrew said in an announcement on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX).

NBL closed at N$32.01 per share on the Local Index of the NSX today, unchanged from Friday.