Lion Beer Australia has announced a new marketing leadership structure, with the creation of a single marketing director role.

Appointed to the new position is Gerard Smith, most recently of meat processor JBS Primo as general manager sales, marketing and R&D.

He previously held a range of sales, marketing and general management positions at PepsiCo in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Creating a single role effectively reverses the August 2015 establishment of a marketing leadership team comprising the separate roles ofmarketing director – brand, shopper and planning and marketing director – category, innovation and communications.

“This change now centralises accountability for marketing into the one role, impacting these two previous roles,” Lion said in a statement.

Managing director James Brindley said: “On behalf of Lion, we offer our great thanks to both Ben Slocombe and Tanya Marler for their many achievements and contribution to the success of Lion over fifteen and five years respectively. They leave a great legacy which we will continue to build upon.”

General manager of craft,Gordon Treanor, will continue to report direct to managing director James Brindley.