Christian Weber, CEO of Karlsberg Brauerei and president of the Deutscher Brauer-Bund (DBB), has officially been elected president of the Brewers of Europe (BoE). Delegates from 28 member states confirmed his appointment during the association’s General Assembly on May 13 in Warsaw. This follows his nomination one month prior by the BoE board.
Weber, aged 46, takes over from Lasse Aho of Finland, who led the association through a turbulent five-year period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic pressures, and shifting societal expectations (inside.beer, 7.9.2020). “Lasse’s experience and calm demeanour have been much appreciated, first as Board member, then as Vice-President, and finally as President of The Brewers of Europe. I thank him for the many hours he has devoted in support of the activities of all of Europe’s breweries, small, medium and large,” the new president said.
Weber, who served before as a vice-president of the BoE, studied economics at the University of Edinburgh and gained industry experience in Switzerland, Ghana, and Austria (with Heineken), joined his family’s brewery in 2010 and ascended to key leadership roles both nationally and in Europe. His father, Dr. Richard Weber, held the BoE presidency from 1992 to 1996.
Alongside Weber, Jorge Villavecchia (Spain) and Graham Fewkes (Denmark) were appointed as vice presidents. With headquarters in Brussels, the BoE represents over 10,000 breweries across Europe and advocates for the sector in EU institutions and international bodies. Germany’s 1,500 breweries and more than 8 billion liters of annual beer production make it the continent’s largest producer, with the DBB playing a central role within the organization.
In his acceptance speech, Weber emphasized that European-level engagement is becoming increasingly vital: “The challenges and opportunities we face do not stop at national borders.” He underscored the need for stronger networking, reduced bureaucracy, pragmatic energy and packaging policies, and a proactive stance in shaping a sustainable future for the beer sector. Weber added, “The Brewers of Europe is a strong association, well-respected in Brussels and with a broad network equipped to meet the challenges.”
