Lion announced its new CEO and the creation of a unified Lion ANZ business, which will position Lion as an Australasian powerhouse.
The new structure combined Lion's Australian and New Zealand operations under a single Lion ANZ Leadership Team, enabling faster decision-making and even closer collaboration across both markets.
Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, Lion’s Chief Growth & Commercial Officer and the co-leader of Lion Australia, has been appointed as Lion’s new Chief Executive Officer. She joined Lion in 2021 following senior leadership roles at The Coca-Cola Company and Mars Wrigley across Asia Pacific and North America.
“In recent years, we’ve been transforming Lion to create a powerful platform for growth – unlocking new investment which has been refocused into our world-class brands, digital transformation and product innovation – while strengthening our supply chain and improving our partnerships & execution with customers," she said.
“But great businesses never stand stil,l and Lion ANZ will position our business as an Australasian powerhouse, building on our incredible heritage spanning more than 180 years and the momentum we have created in recent years. Lion ANZ will make us more dynamic and market-focused than ever before – propelling our iconic beer brands to new heights and supercharging our growth in Australia and New Zealand. Lion is an incredible company and I am delighted to have been appointed as its next CEO to take us forward into our next era of growth.”
Lion’s current New Zealand Managing Director, Craig Baldie, has been appointed to a new role of Chief Operating Officer and New Zealand Country Director.
In this role, Baldie will take on an expanded portfolio of responsibilities, including Strategy, Digital & Technology and Sustainability, and he will continue to lead the Sales & Marketing teams in New Zealand.
“Our new leaner operating model will speed up decision-making, boost collaboration, and support shared best practices across both markets, while keeping sales and marketing teams empowered to lead locally,” he said.
Lion’s United States businesses, New Belgium Brewing and Distinguished Vineyards, have grown to a point of scale and maturity where they can report directly to KIRIN, allowing Lion to focus its full attention and investment on Australian and New Zealand customers.
The changes will take effect from the 1st of October 2025, and Sam Fischer will conclude as Lion CEO at the end of October 2025, as previously announced.
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