Heineken USA CEO Don Blaustein Resigns Friday

Heineken USA said Friday Chief Executive Don J. Blaustein has resigned amid weak sales results. The move is effective Aug. 31.

Blaustein’s resignation comes nearly two years after he succeeded Andy Thomas as CEO of Heineken USA. Prior to being named CEO, Blaustein served as Vice President of Sales.

The company has not yet named a replacement, who will be the beer importer's fourth president in five years. In the interim, John Nicolson, regional president of the Americas unit, will oversee the USA business.

Heineken is the second-largest imported beer brand in the U.S., behind Corona Extra. Heineken had about $315 million in sales just in tracked channels through July 12. (The data excludes Wal-Mart.)

Unit sales of the Heineken brand fell 13% at food, drug, convenience and mass-merchandise outlets for the year to date through July 12 against year-earlier figures, according to market-research firm Information Resources Inc. The data exclude sales at bars, restaurants and certain retailers.

Heineken USA markets brands including Newcastle Brown Ale, Amstel Light and Tecate in the U.S., accounting for about 4% of the nation's beer market in terms of volume, according to industry newsletter Beer Marketer's Insights. Roughly 80% of the industry is controlled by two brewers: Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and MillerCoors LLC, a joint venture of SABMiller PLC and Molson Coors Brewing Co.

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