Anheuser-Busch InBev SA said March 19 that it will propose the appointment of Martin Barrington, former CEO of U.S. tobacco giant Altria Group Inc., as chairman at the company's annual meeting on April 24.
Barrington has been part of AB InBev's board since the company completed its merger with ABI SAB Group Holding Ltd., formerly SABMiller Ltd., in October 2016. He will replace Olivier Goudet who will step down at the conclusion of the meeting.
Goudet has served on the company's board since April 2011, and has been the brewer's chairman since April 2015.
AB InBev also disclosed that Alexandre Behring, Stéfan Descheemaeker and Carlos Alberto Sicupira will be stepping down from AB InBev's board, also effective April 24. Behring has been a director since 2014, Descheemaeker since 2008 and Sicupira since 2004.
The Belgian brewer of Budweiser and Corona beer brands will nominate Cecilia Sicupira, Sabine Chalmers and Claudio Garcia to take their place. Sicupira sits on the boards of Brazilian brewer Ambev SA and retail store chain Lojas Americanas SA Chalmers serves on the board of Coty Inc., while Garcia, who held roles in Ambev and AB InBev, also sits on the board of Lojas Americanas.
The company will also propose the appointment of Xiaozhi Liu to fill Goudet's independent director seat. Liu served as chairman and CEO of General Motors Co.'s Taiwan arm and is currently an independent director at Autoliv Inc. and Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd.