Three years after resigning as managing director of Lion Australia, James Brindley is back in the role as the company announces a series of structural and people changes.
In an announcement to staff, CEO Sam Fischer said the new operating model and strategic approach that had come from a company-wide review had “empowered business units, greater teamwork across functions supporting our markets, and a leaner and more focused group team”.
Subsequently, it spurred a review of the Group Leadership Team’s portfolios.
Fischer said, “We need to continue to refine our structures to ensure our operating model is aligned to our strategy and working as effectively as possible with a cost base comparable to competitor businesses.”
Changes to supply chain, sales, and marketing roles meant the managing director role, at that stage held by David Smith, “significantly changed”.
“David has been part of these conversations and contributed to the proposed changes and, after careful consideration, has decided to leave Lion,” Fischer said.
Smith was announced as Brindley’s replacement in October 2021 and started in January 2022. He had been Diageo’s MD for Southern Europe, and prior to that the MD for Australasia.
The company combined the Lion Group Supply Chain and Lion Australia Supply Chain functions into one role – the Lion Group and Australia Supply Chain director. An internal appointment, Matthew Anderson, takes on the role.
He has been with Lion for 11 years and has led Craft operations, Supply Chain strategy, Performance & Services, New Zealand Supply Chain and Supply Chain Transformation.
Prior to working at Lion, Anderson worked in various roles at CUB and Kraft. Anderson will report to the Lion Australia MD, with a dotted line to Fischer for group-related matters.
Fischer said it was agreed to bring the Growth team – led by Anubha Sahasrabuddhe – “as close to the marketplace as possible”.
“To ensure this occurs, I have asked Anubha to lead the Lion Australia Sales & Marketing portfolios, in addition to her existing Growth accountabilities.
“Anubha’s broader combined role will be titled Chief Growth & Commercial Officer. This appointment recognises Anubha’s incredibly strong consumer and commercial capability, her courageous and transformational leadership, and her success leading the Growth team over the last year,” Fischer said.
Sahasrabuddhe joined Lion in January 2021 as marketing, consumer, and brand director. She was appointed CMO in October that year and joined the Group Leadership Team. In February 2023, she moved into the newly created chief growth officer position.
“Considering this significantly broader scope and impact of Anubha’s role, I am pleased to share that James Brindley will step back into the evolved role of managing director of Lion Australia.
“James will report to me and will re-join the Lion Group Leadership Team. James will be directly accountable for the Group and Lion Australia Supply Chain, as well as Lion Australia functions for Government & External Relations, Finance and People & Culture.
“Simon Edgar, the new general manager of our craft spirits business Four Corners, will also report to James from the end of the third quarter of 2024.
“James will play a key role with customers, supporting our marketplace success and, along with Anubha, will be jointly accountable for overall Lion Australia business performance.
“These changes directly support our geographic operating model and continue to recognise our commitment to building growth capabilities, cultural transformation, and development of our people,” Fischer said.
