Changes at the top of SIBA

March 30, 2007: The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has a new chairman and president.

Keith Bott has stepped down as chairman after a four-year tenure and becomes president of the society.

He replaces Carola Brown under whose presidency SIBA finally won its 20-year battle for a progressive beer duty system. PBD enables more effective competition in the beer market by compensating local brewers for both a lack of scale economies and restricted access to the retail market.

Extended under Keith’s chairmanship, the scheme has created a vibrant micro and local brewing sector and has enabled many consumers to try local beers for the first time.

Peter Amor is the new chairman. Peter’s extensive brewing career started at Guinness before he moved on to Bulmers. In 1984 he opened his own brewery which became Wye Valley, of which he is now chairman.

Peter said: "I am looking forward to the challenges of the next three years and building on the exceptional progress achieved under Keith’s chairmanship.

"The market is still very restrictive and work must continue to allow more beer drinkers the opportunity to drink quality, fresh, local beer."