AB InBev to meet board of directors quota early, says CEO

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.