The great-grandson of the founder of Irn Bru maker AG Barr is to leave the company after one of the longest stints in corporate history.
Robin Barr, the descendant of Robert Barr, who established the Scottish soft drinks company in 1875, will step down from the board at its next annual general meeting in May.
The 85-year-old – one of only three people in the world who know the recipe for Irn Bru – has worked at the family business for 62 years having joined in the early 1960s.
Long run: Robin Barr (pictured), the descendant of Robert Barr, who established the Scottish soft drinks firm in 1875, will step down from the board in May
He served on its board for 58 years, including 31 as chairman, before he stepped down in 2009 and became a non-executive director.
Head of the family dynasty, Barr remains the largest shareholder in AG Barr with a 15pc stake worth nearly £90million.
AG Barr chairman Mark Allen said: ‘We are hugely indebted to Robin for all his years of service, not to mention the balanced and insightful guidance he has provided to the Board as the business has developed across the last 60 years or so.’
As part of its succession planning, the Scottish company announced that Julie Barr, Robin’s daughter, would give up her role as company secretary and join the board at the May AGM.
Following her father’s departure, she will be the only remaining member of the Barr family on the board.
AG Barr reported a 5.2 per cent rise in profit to £44.4million for the year to January 29 as sales rose 18.2 per cent to £318million.
Figures were boosted by price rises as the group sought to offset the surging costs of raw materials such as packaging, glass and the carbon dioxide used to add fizz to drinks.
