The board of directors of Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has elected August A. Busch IV as president and chief executive officer from December 1.

The board of directors of Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has elected August A. Busch IV as president and chief executive officer from December 1. Busch IV succeeds Patrick Stokes, who has held the corporate president and CEO positions since July 2002. Anheuser-Busch then announced more staffing changes as the brewing giant looks ahead to life under the stewardship of incoming president Busch IV. The brewer made three appointments to its strategy committee, a body made of the company's 18 most senior executives, which is responsible for setting out its policies and objectives. Bob Lachky, A-B's executive vice president of global industry development, and Dave Peacock, vice president of business operations for the company's U.S. brewing arm, have been named as members on the committee. Michael S. Harding, vice president of the company's U.S. brewery operations, was the third appointment to the committee. Harding will also replace Joseph Sellinger as CEO and president of A-B's packaging subsidiary. Sellinger plans to retire on November after 35 years at the company. A-B's packaging business will come under the control of Doug Muhleman, group vice president of brewing operations and technology for the company's U.S. and international breweries. Muhleman, who is on the strategy committee, becomes chairman of the packaging subsidiary. James Hoffmeister, the head of A-B's procurement, agricultural and transport operations, is also set to retire from the company. Hoffmeister has spent 39 years at the Budweiser brewer. His role will be taken on by Peacock.