Inge Plochaet

She had been with AB InBev, formerly Interbrew, for 18 years, working in a number of roles across packaging development, retail sales and innovation. She first joined Interbrew as Corporate Packaging Development Manager in 1995 and focused on implementing new technology in developing markets. Since then Inge has moved from leading a team of five to a team of 350.

As President of AB InBev UK & Ireland Inge was responsible for AB InBev’s operations across the region. In the first year of her leadership she introduced a new brand centric strategy, oversaw the reorganisation of AB InBev’s on-trade sales distribution network in the UK as well as the roll-out of Stella Artois Cidre Pear, an extension of the highly successful Stella Artois Cidre brand.

As Vice President Commercial for Western Europe, Inge previously spent four years coordinating AB InBev’s commercial development across the region. She led a team of 150 across six Western European countries, overseeing the successful expansion of the company’s trade marketing and category management department, as well as driving pricing and revenue management. In addition Inge played a leading role in defining the Western European commercial strategy.

Key achievements in this time included the roll-out of AB InBev’s first cross-country brand promotions; the introduction of 360 degree activations; increased promotional efficiency; the restructuring of trade marketing and revenue management teams and the introduction of a new sales training academy.

Prior to this Inge directed AB InBev’s retail sales teams in Belgium and the Netherlands, playing a central role in developing and implementing sales strategies and driving strong, consecutive market share growth.

She gained excellent experience in the field of innovation by spending three years building InterBrew’s innovation practice. This involved developing strategy, building a new team and driving innovations such as PET packaging for beer and mixed drinks such as Beck’s Green Lemon.

Inge began her career as a Packaging Development Engineer at Procter & Gamble in 1990, developing new packaging line-ups for the laundry detergents category in Europe.

Born in Belgium in 1968, Inge holds a degree in Latin Sciences from Regina Pacis in Belgium and a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from De Naeyer. She later achieved a qualification in Innovation management from IMD – Lausanne and completed an MBA programme through AB InBev from Insead & Wharton University in 2001.

Inge lives in the south-east of England with her husband and with two sons. Her first language is Dutch. She also speaks fluent French, English and some German.