Coopers Brewery breaks 160-year run of family management with new managing director

Coopers Brewery is handing the reins of Australia’s biggest independent brewer to a family outsider for the first time in 160 years.

The Adelaide-based, family-owned company disclosed on Thursday that its fifth-generation boss Tim Cooper would step down as managing director after 23 years at the helm, to be replaced by Coopers’ general manager Michael Shearer.

Mr Shearer will be the company’s first managing director outside the Cooper family since Thomas Cooper laid the foundations for the brewer in 1862 by making a tonic from a family recipe for his sick wife.

Coopers will remain family-owned and controlled. The board is chaired by Tim Cooper’s sister, Melanie, and the Coopers hold the majority of directorships.

Dr Cooper, who succeeded his father Bill as managing director in 2002 after studying medicine in Adelaide but then opting to join the family business, will retain his board seat and continue to exert an influence as chief brewer and an ambassador.

“It’s like the (Eagles song) Hotel California, you can check out but you can never leave,” he joked on Thursday about the family’s relationship to its brewery.

The 68-year-old said Mr Shearer’s elevation was part of a succession plan established in 2018 to recognise that while sixth-generation Coopers family members had or planned to join the company, they would not be ready to manage the business before Dr Cooper finally retired.

“Michael has had great exposure to all parts of the business and has been looking after all the day-to-day operations of the company for some time now,” Dr Cooper said.

“(He’s) an exceptional leader who has been instrumental to Coopers’ growth.”

Mr Shearer joined Coopers in 2004 as business systems manager after finance and commercial roles with Kimberly Clark and Tip Top Bakeries.

“I step down knowing that the company is on a steady path and will be in safe hands under Michael’s stewardship. Brewing is in my blood, and I will continue to work at Coopers alongside my son (Coopers’ technical brewer) Iain and the brewing team.,” Dr Cooper said.

He joined Coopers in 1990 by taking charge of the relocation of Coopers brewery to Regency Park in Adelaide and as managing director has led the company on a growth curve that most recently included a $70 million site redevelopment to add a restaurant, bar and visitors centre.

“No one could have predicted our growth after relocating the brewery,” Dr Cooper said.

“We embraced leading edge technology, a positive culture and a passion for beer quality.

“We took a strategic direction in 2002 to establish an interstate sales business which grew our beer distribution strongly. Our national market share increased from 1.5 per cent to 5 per cent within 15 years.

So far in the 2025 financial year, beer sale volumes are up 3.7 per cent - more than double last year’s growth, despite the contracting national market.

“With the support of my fellow directors, we have reinvested profit and taken on debt to pursue our expansion and diversification strategies. Coopers remains in a strong position,” Dr Cooper said.

Mr Shearer described Dr Cooper as “one of the true legends of Australian brewing”.

“His fearless and inspiring leadership has seen Coopers grow to become the country’s largest independent brewery, while remaining authentic and true to its heritage.”