Welcome to the Master Brewer 2022-23 - Jonathan Neame

On Thursday 14 July the Court elected Jonathan Neame, CEO of Shepherd Neame, as Master of the Brewers’ Company for 2022-23. Also elected at the meeting were the Upper Warden: James Staughton, President of St Austell Brewery, the Middle Warden: Katherine Smart, Technical Director of Diageo, and the Renter Warden: Fergus McMullen, Production & Sales Director of McMullen & Sons.

Jonathan Neame graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1985 where he read Classics. He qualified as a Barrister-at-Law in 1987. He then worked as a strategy consultant with The COBA Group before joining his family business Shepherd Neame Ltd in 1991. He is fifth generation of the family to join the business. He has held a variety of roles in that time, before becoming Managing Director in 1999, then Chief Executive in 2003. He is a Trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation and a Director of the Brewers of Europe. Previously he has been Chairman of Visit Kent, Chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association and a Non-Executive director of St Austell Brewery. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, a Kent Ambassador and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kent. Outside work, his interests include cricket, skiing, country pursuits and hiking. He is married to Lucie and they have one daughter Lettie, who is at Edinburgh University studying Fine Art and History of Art.

The Court gave the new Master a hearty welcome and also took the opportunity to thank Richard Fuller for his service as Master between 2020 and 2022. As a result of the pandemic, Richard is the first Master of the Brewers’ Company to serve a term of office longer than one year since Commander Redmond Walter McGrath during World War II. The Court and wider Livery of the Company are very grateful for his extraordinary service.