Marc Busain has been appointed CEO of Lipton Teas and Infusions, starting 1 October.
Busain has spent most of his career with Heineken, initially joining its finance team in 1995.
His career at Heineken spanned more than 30 years and involved roles across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. For the past 10 years he has been president of Americas.
He began his journey in 1995, initially holding several roles in finance before transitioning into general management in 2003. Bussain went on to serve as managing director in Burundi, Egypt, France and Mexico.
Under his leadership, Heineken’s Americas region doubled its revenue, operating profit and net profit. Both Mexico and Brazil emerged as solid profit contributors, playing a vital role in the region’s overall performance.
He was instrumental in the acquisition of Brazil Kirin and its integration with the company’s Brazilian operations, which is now its largest market for both Heineken and Amstel, and a significant profit driver.
Premiumisation and the rapid expansion of Heineken 0.0 were also key pillars of growth under his leadership.
Reflecting on his appointment to lead Lipton Teas and Infusions, Busain said: “It is a tremendous pleasure to join a company with responsibility for such a collection of storied and much-loved brands.
“Tea, in all its varied forms, is an exciting growth category and I look forward to working with the talented team at Lipton Teas and Infusions to ensure there’s a tea for everyone.”
“This is a natural moment for Marc to take the next step in his career, and I am genuinely pleased for him,” Dolf van den Brink chairman of the executive board/CEO for Heineken said on Busain’s departure.
“He leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the Americas, where he cultivated a winning culture rooted in trust and empowerment. As a leader, Marc stood out for his commitment to building strong teams and nurturing talent, often mentoring first-time general managers who have gone on to become key leaders within Heineken. I wish him every success in his future endeavours.”
Pierre Laubies, who has been at the helm of Lipton since former CEO Nathalie Roos stepped down for personal reasons, will return to the supervisory board as Busain takes on the position.
Laubies took on the role of chair at the firm’s supervisory board in 2022, when Lipton Teas and Infusions was established as an independent business. He was appointed CEO in September on an interim basis.
“I am very pleased to welcome Marc to Lipton Teas and Infusions on behalf of the Supervisory Board,” commented Jean-Remy Roussel, the current supervisory board chair.
“Marc has tremendous global experience in the consumer packaged goods sector and a track record of consistently delivering growth. With his strong commercial acumen and leadership, I have every confidence that the world’s leading tea business is in good hands. I also look forward to having Pierre rejoin us on the Supervisory Board and thank him for his hands-on management during this period.”
