DENVER & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2012-- Molson Coors Brewing Company today named Samuel Walker, Chief Legal Officer, to the expanded role of Chief People and Legal Officer, combining the two senior positions on its Executive Leadership Team.

“Sam brings valuable expertise to the human resources portfolio,” remarked Peter Swinburn, President and CEO of Molson Coors. “He understands employment issues, but more importantly, he understands people. As a proven leader at Molson Coors, he will keep the momentum going behind our top-tier employee engagement and bring fresh energy and ideas to the team.”

“We have high expectations of our people, and they deliver extraordinary results,” noted Sam Walker. “It is a privilege to lead an HR team that creates an environment where everyone can have a positive impact on our business.”

Ralph Hargrow, who served as Chief People Officer since 2005, has asked to step down to pursue other career opportunities. He will remain with the company through the end of February to ensure a smooth transition. “Ralph has overseen massive improvements to our HR systems and people development. The fact that we have achieved world-class talent recruitment, retention and employee engagement is a testimony to his efforts to make Molson Coors such an attractive company for people to join,” said Swinburn.

Sam Walker has served as vice president and global chief legal officer since the merger of Molson and Coors in 2005. Previously, he was US & worldwide chief legal officer and group vice president at Coors Brewing Company since 2002.

Walker served as a partner for 10 years at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein & Fielding, LLC, where he handled trial and non-trial matters for consumer products companies. He also brings government experience to his role, having run the Employment Standards Administration, the largest agency in the US Department of Labor. He held a sub-cabinet position in the US Department of Education and served as Assistant Clearance Counsel during the 2000 presidential transition.

Walker received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

About Molson Coors

Molson Coors Brewing Company is a leading global brewer delivering extraordinary brands that delight the world’s beer drinkers. It brews, markets and sells a portfolio of leading premium brands such as Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Carling, Blue Moon, and Keystone Light across The Americas, Europe and Asia. It operates in Canada through Molson Coors Canada; in the US through MillerCoors; in the U.K. and Ireland through Molson Coors UK; and outside these core markets through Molson Coors International. For more information on Molson Coors Brewing Company and our portfolio of brands, visit the company's website, www.molsoncoors.com.

Source: Molson Coors Brewing Company

Molson Coors Brewing Company
Colin Wheeler, 303-927-2443
colin.wheeler@molsoncoors.com
or
Marie-Hélène Lagacé, 514-598-6966
MarieHelene.lagace@molsoncoors.com