Erceg lieutenant leaves Independent

Roger Smith had been with Independent for more than a decade. Picture / Martin Sykes

Independent Distillers - the company founded by Michael Erceg - has lost Roger Smith, the executive who had been running the business since Erceg's death last year.

Smith's departure may be evidence the company is being readied for a sale to a corporate liquor company.

A liquor industry source said Smith, the company's sales and marketing director, had been looking to make a move since Erceg's death because he did not want to be involved in a business that could be sold to a corporate liquor company. He left the company suddenly last Friday.

"He [Smith] said, 'This is not going to suit me. No matter what happens it's going to be a corporate business'," said the source, who asked not to be named.

Australian brewer Lion Nathan has been one of many companies said to be interested in Independent's sub-premium beer and pre-mixed cocktail business. Independent has about 65 per cent market share of the country's ready-to-drink market and 8 per cent of beer market.

The source also said Smith wanted to devote time to his Australian technology business.

Since the death of Erceg in a helicopter crash last November, the local liquor industry has been rife with rumours about the company's fate.

Smith said two weeks ago that the review of the company's assets in the UK would be completed by yesterday and that he would be in a position to provide an update on their fate.

Independent Distillers confirmed Smith had left the company but declined to comment.

Smith was with the company for more than 10 years and was the family's search co-ordinator when Erceg disappeared.