Paul Chibe, who has served as the VP of marketing for Anheuser-Busch InBev since 2011, will resign in February, the company announced.
A-B InBev employees and distributors learned of the news yesterday via email.
“Paul has led the U.S. marketing business since June 2011, bringing new talent to the organization and strategies for marketing to new generations in the digital age,” the email read. “He contributed to our business, and we wish him all the best.”
Jorn Socquet, the company’s current VP of marketing in Canada, will replace Chibe next month.
Chibe, 46, will remain with A-B InBev through the Super Bowl, the internationally televised event where global brewery plans to air several costly advertisements for its Bud Light and Budweiser brands.
In an interview, Chibe told Brewbound that he’s been considering the move for six months and that his desire to spend more time with family was the main consideration.
“Family is my primary focus right now,” he said. “Any commentary that my decision to leave somehow has to do with the Super Bowl is wrong.”
Chibe said he has a non-compete clause in his contract with that restricts him from immediately working with any other beer companies, but he isn’t ruling out the prospect of returning to the beer industry in the future.
“I love the beer business,” he said. “At some point in time, you never know when I could be coming back.”
Chibe said a number of entertainment-focused, consumer packages goods and venture capital companies have already expressed interest in hiring the executive. Chibe said he’s narrowed his search to California and hometown Chicago and hopes to decide his next move by mid-year.
A-B InBev’s memo on Chibe’s departure is printed below:
It has been announced that Paul Chibe has decided to leave our company. Paul has led the US marketing business since June 2011, bringing new talent to the organization and strategies for marketing to new generations in the digital age. He contributed to our business, and we wish him all the best.
Replacing Paul as vice president of U.S. marketing is Jorn Socquet, who has served as vice president of marketing in Canada since 2010. During his time there, he has led Budweiser to become the No. 1 beer brand in the country and accelerated the growth of Bud Light to become the third-largest brand in Canada.
Before his role in Canada, Jorn served as Global Director of Stella Artois, Beck’s and Hoegaarden. Among his achievements was the successful “She’s a thing of beauty” strategy for Stella Artois. Jorn has more than 15 years of experience building brands and a proven track record of innovation which will be great assets for the US organization.