South Africa, Johannesburg: Namibia Breweries Ltd (NBL) said on Thursday, January 20, that Managing Director Marcus von Blottnitz had resigned in order to pursue other interests in the southern Africa region. Blottnitz, who has worked on three continents for tobacco companies and breweries, took up his post in Sept. 2003 from Heineken Switzerland, according to Reuters.

Pending his replacement, the executive management team will report to Chairman Sven Thieme, a statement to the Johannesburg stock exchange said.

Brewers Heineken and Diageo took an effective 28.9 percent stake in Namibia Breweries in mid-2003, after Heineken decided not to renew SABMiller's licence to brew its trademark green-labelled beer in South Africa.

22 January, 2005