Back to beer ... and hockey : the story of Eric Molson

A personal look into a quiet man's quest to make Molson a global brewer. A personal look into a quiet man's quest to make Molson a global brewer. To most Canadians, the Molson name is part of the very fabric of Canada. Since 1786, when John Molson founded his first brewery in Montreal, it has become synonymous with beer, hockey, and philanthropy. Few realize, however, how close the family came in recent years to losing control of the enterprise. Back to Beer ... and Hockey offers intimate details of the life and work of Eric Molson, who not only saved the company, but positioned it to thrive as a global brewery into the twenty-first century. With unprecedented access to the Molson family, Helen Antoniou traces Eric Molson’s evolution from a young brewmaster captivated by the chemistry of beer-making to chairman of Molson. Quiet by nature, he had to confront big egos, navigate complex boardroom politics, and even battle a disruptive cousin who tried to push him out of the way. Antoniou’s carefully researched account details how the introverted Eric overcame his aversion to conflict to take the company from a failing conglomerate back to its core business of beer, eventually turning it into one of the world’s leading brewers. Today, he has passed the torch to his sons, the seventh generation, but his steadfast vision prevails. An absorbing account of one man’s struggle at the helm of an international brewing giant, Back to Beer ... and Hockey shows how Eric Molson’s guiding principles influenced the future of Molson - both the enterprise and the family.To most Canadians, the Molson name is part of the very fabric of Canada. Since 1786, when John Molson founded his first brewery in Montreal, it has become synonymous with beer, hockey, and philanthropy. Few realize, however, how close the family came in recent years to losing control of the enterprise. Back to Beer ... and Hockey offers intimate details of the life and work of Eric Molson, who not only saved the company, but positioned it to thrive as a global brewery into the twenty-first century. With unprecedented access to the Molson family, Helen Antoniou traces Eric Molson’s evolution from a young brewmaster captivated by the chemistry of beer-making to chairman of Molson. Quiet by nature, he had to confront big egos, navigate complex boardroom politics, and even battle a disruptive cousin who tried to push him out of the way. Antoniou’s carefully researched account details how the introverted Eric overcame his aversion to conflict to take the company from a failing conglomerate back to its core business of beer, eventually turning it into one of the world’s leading brewers. Today, he has passed the torch to his sons, the seventh generation, but his steadfast vision prevails. An absorbing account of one man’s struggle at the helm of an international brewing giant, Back to Beer ... and Hockey shows how Eric Molson’s guiding principles influenced the future of Molson - both the enterprise and the family "To most Canadians, the Molson name is part of the very fabric of Canada. Since 1786, when John Molson founded his first brewery in Montreal, it has been synonymous with beer, hockey, and philanthropy. Few realize, however, how close the family came in recent years to losing control of the enterprise. Back to Beer ... and Hockey offers intimate details of the life and work of Eric Molson, who not only saved the company, but positioned it to thrive as a global brewery into the twenty-first century. With unprecedented access to the Molson family, Helen Antoniou traces Eric Molson's evolution from a young brewmaster captivated by the chemistry of beer-making to chairman of Molson. Quiet by nature, he had to confront big egos, navigate complex boardroom politics and even battle a disruptive cousin who tried to push him out of the way. Antoniou's carefully researched account details how the introverted Eric overcame his aversion to conflict to take the company from a failing conglomerate back to its core business of beer, eventually turning it into one of the world's leading brewers. Today, he has passed the torch to his sons, the seventh generation, but his steadfast vision prevails. An absorbing account of one man's struggle at the helm of an international brewing giant, Back to Beer ... and Hockey shows how Eric Molson's guiding principles influenced the future of Molson--both the enterprise and the family."-- Provided by publisher Cover BACK TO BEER ... AND HOCKEY Title Copyright CONTENTS Prologue: The Age-Old Recipe PART I THE CALL TO ADVENTURE 1 Growing Up in Eric’s World 2 Meeting the Heroine 3 Brewing Beer at Molson 4 Becoming the Boss 5 Buying Back the Canadiens PART II THE NEW WORLD 6 Crossing the Threshold 7 Navigating the Road of Trials 8 Welcoming Ian into the Fold 9 Making Molson a Brewery Again 10 The Molson Family Principles 11 Facing Setbacks 12 Confronting Boardroom Politics PART III THE RETURN 13 Taking the High Road 14 Relaying the Elixir to Generation VII Acknowledgments Index