Visiting Internationals
Travels from: South Australia
Fee Range: $5,000-$10,000
Glenn Cooper is a fifth generation Cooper and the Executive Chairman at Coopers Brewery who also holds the responsibility of the Marketing. He has overseen the launch of numerous products to the Coopers beer range, including: Coopers Mild Ale, Coopers Dark Ale, Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale and Special Old Stout.
It may be a little known fact, but before turning his hand to the family brewing business, Glenn had a highly successful career in computers. He also once worked for rival brewer, SA Brewing.
Glenn started his working career by gaining qualifications in electronic engineering, and later in computing and marketing. It was not a given that descendants of the Cooper family would come to work for Cooper & Sons, the brewing company founded in 1862 by Thomas Cooper. In fact, Glenn's father Ken advised him when he was a youngster against joining the company, believing at that stage it was unlikely to survive. Completing his school education at Adelaide's Prince Alfred College in 1967, Glenn went on to study electronic engineering. It was during this time that he worked at SA Brewing on plant equipment - such was the amicable relationship between the two breweries that SA Brewing didn't mind having a Cooper in their midst! After completing his engineering studies, Glenn then studied for an Associate Diploma in Business Management and eventually left SA Brewing.
Glenn entered into the computing field with a company called Anderson Digital Equipment. After two years with this company, Glenn moved to Melbourne to take up his new role of National Distribution Manager. In 1983 Glenn returned to South Australia and set up his own business in computer sales and services. A highly successful venture, his company grew to employ almost 30 staff, with a turnover of more than $3.5 million. It was in 1990 that Glenn was invited to join Coopers Brewery, after he sold the engineering side of his computer business to a French computer giant.
At Coopers, Glenn's talent and instinct for marketing saw him take up the position of Marketing Director. Today he is also the company's Executive Chairman. Aided by Glenn's marketing ingenuity, Coopers has cemented a reputation as an ale, stout and home brew producer of the highest quality, and enjoys excellent sales both within Australia and on the export market.
Says Glenn, "We've built our niche in the market around a reputation for quality and tradition rather than profit-making - I think the public realises that we have immense pride in what we produce, so they know they can trust in the quality of Coopers?. ?We just want people to know that our beers are the best quality amber liquid you can find in a bottle."
Glenn's focus at this stage of his brewery career is to continually expand the Coopers range of products both interstate and internationally.