As Frucor Suntory and Beam Suntory head towards the realisation of its multi-beverage partnership, Suntory Oceania, Frucor Suntory has appointed Ian Roberts as its chief Supply Chain officer.
Roberts is highly regarded in the industry with an extensive background in end-to-end FMCG operations, having spent more than three decades at Lion and most recently, Visy.
At Visy, Roberts was the executive general manager of Retail, and was responsible for establishing Visy’s retail-facing division.
He started at Lion more than 30 years ago on a university scholarship at Castlemaine Perkins. Having worked at overseas and local operations in a range of senior supply chain roles he was ultimately Lion’s chief Supply Chain and Technical director.
At the interim named Frucor Suntory Oceania, Roberts will lead the trans-Tasman supply chain, including operations in Wiri, New Zealand, and the $400+ million manufacturing and distribution facility currently under construction in Ipswich, Queensland.
He will be based in Sydney as a key member of the Oceania leadership team.
Frucor Suntory Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton said the company was thrilled to have Roberts join the company.
“Ian’s extensive experience in leading supply chain transformation and his unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement perfectly align with our values and the Yatte Minahare spirit that drives our global Suntory business,” Fullerton said.
Roberts said it was exciting to join the company at a critical period of transformation including Frucor Suntory’s “incredible growth trajectory” and the Suntory Oceania partnership.
“Suntory's core values of craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability align perfectly with my own commitment to delivering excellence and driving positive change in the supply chain.
“Together, we will work towards building a world-class supply chain that will deliver exceptional results for our multi-beverage portfolio in Oceania,” Roberts said.
Interview with Darren Fullerton on Suntory Oceania announcement.
Editor Kim Berry spoke to Ian Roberts back in 2020 during Covid-19 in the early days of the Food & Drink Business Podcast. Listen here.
