Heineken UK and Beavertown Brewery have announced an assortment of senior leadership changes as they move into the next phase of development for Beavertown. 

Will Rice, who is currently the on-trade sales director at Heineken, will become MD at Beavertown. 

In the new position, Rice is set to lead growth for the brewery, underpinned by the success of Neck Oil. 

He brings with him a broad range of commercial experience, having held roles in the off-trade, Star Pubs and the on-trade at Heineken.

At the same time, Jochen van Esch is set to return to the Heineken group, following three and a half years as MD at Beavertown. 

During his time as MD, the company said van Esch supported the construction of the Beavertown Brewery in Enfield, as well as leading a strong pipeline of innovation. 

Finally, Mick Howard, who is currently operations director for Star Pubs, will become the on-trade sales director for Heineken UK. 

In this new role, he will focus on delivering profitable growth and driving strong execution of Heineken UK’s on-trade strategy. 

All are set to transition into their new positions on 1 June. Meanwhile, Beavertown will continue to operate as a separate company. 

Boudewijn Haarsma, MD at Heineken UK, said: “These moves reflect our focus on putting proven, high-impact leaders where they can make the biggest difference for customers and growth.”