(Bloomberg) -- SABMiller Plc said its chief financial officer stepped down suddenly after a decade with the world’s second-largest brewer.
Jamie Wilson resigned yesterday “for personal reasons,” a spokesman for the London-based brewer said, without elaborating. He will be replaced by Domenic De Lorenzo, the company’s strategy director, while a successor is sought.
“This is certainly a surprise announcement,” Phil Carroll, an analyst at Shore Capital, said in a note, calling the CFO “an important member of SAB’s management team.”
Wilson, who has held the post since 2011, leaves the board with “immediate effect” and will depart the company next month. His exit comes as the maker of
Grolsch faces constant speculation about being the target of a takeover by larger rival Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. SABMiller itself made an approach to Dutch competitor Heineken NV last year, only to be rebuffed.
“I am saddened by Jamie’s departure,” Chief Executive Officer Alan Clark said in a statement Thursday. “He leaves the group in sound financial health and we all wish him every success in the future.”
SABMiller shares rose 0.4 percent to 3,568 pence at 8:06 a.m. in London trading.
The search for Wilson’s replacement is underway, the company said. De Lorenzo, 51, has been with SABMiller for nearly two decades. He’s been on the company’s executive board since 2011 and has been involved with transactions including the formation of the MillerCoors joint venture, SABMiller said.

Company Reshuffle

Wilson’s departure comes less than six months after the company reshuffled assignments among its top ranks, giving the CFO responsibility for investor relations and making De Lorenzo head of group strategy. The 55-year-old Scot is the second top executive to step down this month, after longtime MillerCoors CEO Tom Long announced his retirement Feb. 10.
Wilson will be entitled to a payment of 762,200 pounds ($1.2 million), in lieu of notice for his contractual period of 12 months, provided he doesn’t take up employment during that time without the consent of Clark, SAB said.