Colin Wood to retire from Theakston

01 October 2020

Executive director of North Yorkshire brewers T&R Theakston, Colin Wood, is to retire from the Board at the beginning of November.

Wood, alongside his co-executive director Simon Theakston masterminded the buy-back of Theakston’s from Scottish & Newcastle plc (S&N) 17 years ago and together have been running the business ever since.

Wood’s involvement with Theakston’s however stretches back even further to when, in 1987, S&N plc gained control of Theakston through the purchase of Matthew Brown PLC who had taken control of Theakston’s a few years earlier.

He was appointed MD of T&RT, a position he held for five years before an internal promotion back to Scotland where he subsequently joined the Board of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, and was then appointed to the Board of Scottish Courage Ltd after its formation in 1995.

Wood said: “I have enjoyed every moment of my time at Theakston’s and indeed before at S&N. The brewing industry has been and always will be a hugely rewarding and enjoyable place to work.

“I’ve had a wonderful career and it’s a source of great delight that, despite the extraordinary Covid related circumstances currently facing our industry, I leave T&RT as a thriving independent family business.”

Richard Bradbury, currently trading director with Heineken UK Ltd, has been appointed joint managing director of Theakston.

In recent years he has been commercial director of Heineken UK and is currently trading director with responsibility for Route to Market and key National Account leased and tenanted businesses.

He previously held senior positions in Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (now Marston’s) and Heineken Ireland and was closely involved in the purchase by Heineken of S&N Plc in 2008.

He said: “I am delighted to join the executive team of T&RT and look forward to utilising all my experiences to help develop the next chapter in the company’s long and proud history.” Bradbury takes up his appointment on November 2.

Joint managing director, Simon Theakston, said: “It has been a joy and privilege to have worked with Collin so closely for over 17 years.

“Buying back the company and re-establishing our thriving independence has been arguably the most significant chapter in our company’s near 200-year history.

“I know I speak on behalf of my family, our customers and all members of staff, past and present in acknowledging Collin’s extraordinary contribution to that moment and the success of the business ever since.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome as joint managing director, Richard Bradbury.

“His track record at senior management within the industry is almost without parallel, we consider it a matter of great good fortune that we have been able to entice him to join us.

“Collin is a very hard act indeed to follow, in Richard, we have the perfect individual!”