Asahi Beverages appoints Brian Phan as chief commercial officer

Asahi Beverages has appointed Brian Phan as chief commercial officer, expanding the role to bring the company’s commercial and growth functions under one leader.

The move is aimed at helping the beverages business respond to changing market conditions while creating more growth opportunities for customers.

Phan takes on expanded remit

Phan has served as Asahi Beverages’ chief growth officer for the past five years, overseeing marketing, innovation and disruption, strategy, insights and the company’s in-house agency 1House.

His expanded role will now combine those responsibilities with the commercial function.

“Brian brings to the enhanced Chief Commercial Officer role his deep experience, astute insight, long-term strategic foresight and exceptional leadership skills,” said Amanda Sellers, group CEO of Asahi Beverages.

“In his role as chief growth officer, Brian has contributed enormously to the business’ continued expansion over the past five years. Consolidating our commercial and growth functions into a single function led by Brian will allow us to better support our customers.”

Leadership change follows Parsons move

Phan’s appointment follows the announcement in May that Nigel Parsons, Asahi Beverages’ inaugural chief commercial officer, would become CEO of Asahi Europe International.

Parsons previously spent four years as CEO of Asahi Lifestyle Beverages before taking on the commercial leadership role.

“Nigel has made an enormous contribution in his roles as Asahi Beverages’ inaugural chief commercial officer and earlier during his four years as CEO of our former Asahi Lifestyle Beverages division,” said Sellers.

“I thank Nigel for his leadership, passion and performance focus and wish him the very best for his new role in Prague in the Czech Republic.”

The expanded commercial role brings Asahi Beverages’ growth, marketing and commercial capabilities under a single leadership structure as the company looks to strengthen customer growth and respond to shifts across the beverages market.