AB InBev to meet board of directors quota early, says CEO
The largest brewer in the world, AB InBev of Leuven, says it will reach the quota for women on its board before the law takes effect in 2019
One-third women
For most companies, the quota comes into force in 2017; for companies with a controlling shareholder – AB InBev is controlled by Belgian and Brazilian families – the quota becomes law two years later. “We will meet that deadline, and most likely will achieve that figure even sooner,” Storm said in answer to a question from the floor. “Above all, what we want is a balanced board with the right people, irrespective of gender or nationality.”
At present, AB InBev has 14 directors, two of whom are women: Maria Asunción Aramburuzabala of Mexico was the reference shareholder of Mexican market leader Grupo Modelo, which was taken over by AB InBev in 2012, and M Michele Burns of the US, former CEO of human resources multinational Mercer. Burns (pictured), who has sat on several boards, including Wal-Mart and Goldman Sachs, was appointed at the AGM.
InBev could find additional women directors within the ranks of its shareholders, Trends magazine suggested. Eugénie Patri Sébastien is a director of the Luxembourg-based holding company of InBev’s Belgian shareholders. Viscountess Diane de Spoelberch, the wife of former Interbrew director Charles Adriaenssen, became a director of the holding in 2013.
“I cannot rule out that women might be nominated to the board by controlling shareholders,” Storm said.

Belgian beer
Litres of beer annually consumed per person in Belgium
breweries in Flanders
million hectolitres of beer produced in Belgium in 2012
- Belgian Brewers Association
- Beer in Flanders
- Centre for Agrarian History