Food Drink

Coopers Brewery announces Tim Cooper to step down as managing director after 23 years

Coopers Brewery sees a major leadership transition as Dr Tim Cooper steps down after 23 years. Michael Shearer takes the helm, aiming to continue the brewery’s significant growth and innovation in the Australian market.

Australia’s largest Australian-owned brewery, Coopers Brewery, has announced a huge shift in its leadership structure. After 23 years as Managing Director, Dr Tim Cooper is set to retire from his role. Michael Shearer, who currently holds the position of General Manager, will step up to become the new Managing Director. This change will take effect from March 1st.

Dr Cooper, a fifth-generation family member deeply embedded in the company’s heritage, will not be stepping away entirely. He will continue to serve as a Director and Chief Brewer, focusing on brewing and technical aspects of the business. Under his leadership, the brewery witnessed considerable expansion and innovation, notably moving to a new $70 million facility at Regency Park and significantly growing its market share.

“To lead Coopers Brewery over the past 23 years has been both a privilege and a fulfilment,” Dr Cooper shared.

Dr Cooper was involved in milestones such as overcoming a hostile takeover bid in 2005 and expanding the brewery’s production capabilities, which included the introduction of a malt market operation in 2017. He also noted the strategic push into interstate sales that started in 2002, helping to increase Coopers’ national market share from 1.5% to 5% within 15 years.

“Michael is an exceptional leader who has been instrumental to Coopers’ growth,” praised Dr Cooper.

“It is an honour to be appointed as Managing Director of a great Australian company with such a significant heritage and exciting future,” said Michael Shearer.

He further commended Dr Cooper’s leadership and expressed eagerness to build on the foundational strengths of the brewery. Shearer also touched upon the ongoing projects and future prospects of Coopers, including the solidification of its position in the DIY brewing market and new ventures into whisky production.

The brewery’s management underscores a blend of tradition and adaptability, with the board chaired by Mel Cooper, another fifth-generation family member. The leadership structure predominantly consists of Cooper family directors, ensuring that the family ethos continues to guide the company’s operations.

This transition arrives at a time when Coopers is experiencing a positive turnover in its financial outlook. Despite a contracting national beer market, Coopers reported a 3.7% growth in beer sales in the current year, following a 1.5% increase in the 2024 financial year. The company’s continuous growth and expansion initiatives, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art visitor centre, demonstrate Cooper’s commitment to maintaining its legacy while adapting to contemporary market demands.

As Coopers Brewery embraces this new chapter, the foundational family-led approach to the business paired with innovative strategies points towards a continuing upward trajectory in both the domestic and international markets.

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