Myers vacates Lion chair

By DITA DE BONI

Sydney-based, Japanese-owned Lion Nathan has appointed a New Zealand chairman, which - says the company - "confirms [Lion's] commitment to New Zealand".

Geoff Ricketts, who has been a Lion Nathan director since 1988 and before that, LD Nathan, has stepped into the shoes left by retiring chairman Douglas Myers (also a New Zealander), saying they will be hard shoes to fill.

"But it's not as if I'm coming to them cold," he says. "There will be no great change as a result of my appointment.

"We will still be committed to our core brewing business and looking for growth options in Montana."

He complimented both ex-chairman Mr Myers and present chief executive Gordon Cairns yesterday, saying Mr Myers' "commitment, energy and determination" had transformed Lion Nathan from a small local brewery to Australasia's largest brewer, and that Mr Cairns was "outstanding".

Mr Ricketts would not discuss Lion's battle for Montana, saying that as the matter is before the courts it would be inappropriate for him to comment.

But he confirmed he had a "passing interest" in drinking wine.

Mr Ricketts is a consulting partner at law firm Russell McVeagh, and has directorships with the Stock Exchange, Spotless Group, Todd Corporation, and is New Zealand chairman of Royal and Sun Alliance Group.

He is acknowledged as one of New Zealand's richest men, worth an estimated $50 million, and is one of the principals in private investment company Oceania and Eastern.