Family brewer row quietens

Stuart Neame, vice-chairman of Faversham-based family brewer Shepherd Neame until he resigned in 2003 following a dispute with board members, has welcomed recent moves by the company towards greater openness.

He also applauded the appointment of Miles Templeman, the new director general of the Institute of Directors, as chairman of the company. Templeman succeeds Bobby Neame, the father of the present chief executive, Jonathan Neame.

However, three resolutions put forward by Stuart Neame at the company's AGM in October were overwhelmingly rejected. One of the three was for good corporate governance in line with recommendations of the 2003 Higgs report.

Neame also wanted to see separate reporting of the company's brewing, tenanted pubs, managed pubs and property interests. He also proposed that his brother, Dr Roderick Neame, be made a director of the company.

However, according to Neame, the board now shows signs of moving from the position it held last October when it said it would "consider the need to adopt increased business segmentation under International Financial Reporting Standards in 2006 when these become applicable"

Neame was still disappointed that there were no plans to separate out the reporting of property ownership.