OREANDA-NEWS. Carlsberg Group announces that Dr. Isaac Sheps, CEO of Baltika Breweries and Senior Vice President for Carlsberg Group's Eastern Europe Region, has decided to step down from the Carlsberg's Executive Committee. Isaac Sheps is succeeded by Jacek Pastuszka, currently CEO of Ringnes, Norway. The changes will take effect from January 1, 2015. In December 2014 Isaac will be handing over the business to Jacek and during 2015 Isaac Sheps will continue working in the Carlsberg Group as Senior Executive Advisor to the Carlsberg Group's CEO and ExCom.

During his 16 years with the Carlsberg Group Isaac Sheps was in charge of many markets including 7 countries of the South East Europe and United Kingdom where he has been very successful in turning the business around, tripling its profits and increasing the market share in a declining market. He joined Baltika Breweries and Eastern Europe region in December 2011. Since then the company has managed not only to stop the significant drop of the market share in Russia but even to increase it in 2013 in the environment of the dramatic decline of the Russian beer market impacted by worsening legislation and tough macroeconomic environment. In the last two years Baltika managed to increase its EBIT margin by 1.7%. Since autumn 2012 Isaac Sheps has been a key driver of the Russian Brewers Union heading the industry as the Chairman of the Union's Council. As a result of his activities, during the last 2 years the number of RBU's members has almost tripled. There was also a solid business turnaround in Kazakhstan where the Group's company significantly improved its profits and stopped dropping its market share.

Commenting on this announcement, J©Єrgen Buhl Rasmussen, President and CEO of the Carlsberg Group says:

"I understand and respect the decision Isaac has made, but I will miss the impact he has had in our senior management team. During his long career with Carlsberg Isaac repeatedly demonstrated his strong capabilities as a leader who can turn around businesses. In a very tough macro environment with declining markets, he and his management team have managed to grow market share and protect profitability in Baltika as well as further develop our other Eastern European markets, while establishing strong relationships with key stakeholders in Russia".

Isaac Sheps, CEO of Baltika Breweries and SVP Eastern Europe of the Carlsberg Group, said:

"These three years were tough but very exciting. Baltika has strengthened its position as the Number One in the Russian beer market where the industry became more consolidated. I am sure that with such a professional team Jacek will successfully carry on Baltika's flagship in the year of its 25th anniversary and I wish him all the best in his new role".

Jacek Pastuszka (51) has been CEO of Ringnes Norway, part of the Carlsberg Group, since November 2011, the position he was appointed to after serving for three years as CEO in Carlsberg's subsidiary in Poland. Before joining Carlsberg, he was CEO of American International Group (AIG) in Poland since 2005. Between 2001 and 2005 he was commercial director of Danone Dairy in Poland and Baltic countries. Before that he worked 10 years at Procter & Gamble holding various commercial positions in Poland, working on Wal*Mart Customer Team in the USA and leading P&G's business with Tesco in Central European and Asian markets.

Jacek has graduated from the Academy of Economics in Katowice, Poland, with a Master's degree in Foreign Trade. He has also undergone numerous functional and general management trainings, primarily at Procter & Gamble and AIG.

Jacek is married, with two grown-up kids.

J©Єrgen Buhl Rasmussen continues:

"I am very pleased to welcome a new member to our Executive Committee. Jacek, who has been with Carlsberg since 2009 and before in different senior commercial positions with AIG, Danone and P&G, has from the very beginning demonstrated very strong leadership capabilities and performance management. As CEO of Carlsberg Polska, he made the company into one of the best-performing in Carlsberg's Western Europe region, including an excellent execution of activities around the Euro 2012 football championship, of which Carlsberg was a sponsor - an achievement which resulted in the award of 'Carlsberg Group's Company of the year'. In 2011, he took over as CEO of Ringnes, which under his leadership has grown earnings significantly, increased its market share and still managed to successfully implement the business standardization program - achievements that awarded Ringnes 'Carlsberg Group's Company of the year' in 2013."

Jacek Pastuszka comments about his new role:

"After three exciting and eventful years heading Ringnes in Norway, I look forward to taking on new challenges in Carlsberg Group. I fully recognize how big of a responsibility and stewardship I have been entrusted with. Baltika business has had an impressive track record since its inception 25 years ago, and is also recently demonstrating strong resilience under unfavorable market conditions. Plus I am taking it over from a charismatic leader who will not be easy to replace. It is therefore with great humbleness and respect that I enter into my next assignment in Carlsberg Group, counting on guidance and support from all employees and managers in Eastern Europe Region".