Dublin, Ireland, June 2025 – C&C Group has welcomed Karen Bates as its new Chief People Officer, where she will oversee the company’s people strategy and play a pivotal role in shaping an agile, inclusive, and high-performing culture across C&C’s international operations.
Before joining C&C Group, Karen served as Global People Director at BrewDog for over five years, where she was responsible for all aspects of HR, reward, payroll, learning & development, and wellbeing for the company’s global network of breweries, hotels, and bars. Her leadership contributed significantly to BrewDog’s rapid international expansion and its people-first approach.
Prior to BrewDog, Karen was People Director Global Functions at Costa Coffee, where she led global HR support functions and played a key role in the people transition during the acquisition of Costa from Whitbread to Coca-Cola. This period included developing robust HR policies and supporting large-scale organizational change.
Karen also served as Human Resources Director (Retail Group) at Drax Group, leading the people function for two major energy businesses and participating in the wider HR group project board. Earlier, as Director of People & Business Services at Doddle Parcels, she built the people function for a start-up while also managing customer service and business administration.
Earlier in her career, Karen held the position of Group Head of Human Resources at Holland & Barrett, overseeing HR for store support, distribution, manufacturing, and retail brands across the UK and Europe. She also led HR teams at Aurum Holdings, Next Group PLC, and Gala Coral Group, gaining deep experience in talent management, organizational development, and HR operations in diverse business settings.
Karen’s extensive background across retail, hospitality, and fast-growth environments makes her exceptionally suited to lead the people strategy at C&C Group.
C&C Group is a leading international manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of branded beverages, including Bulmers (Ireland’s leading cider), Tennent’s (Scotland’s top beer), Magners, and a portfolio of premium and craft drinks. With operations in Ireland, the UK, and the US, C&C Group is also a leading drinks wholesaler serving the hospitality industry through Matthew Clark, Bibendum, and C&C Gleeson. Headquartered in Dublin and listed on the London Stock Exchange, C&C Group is recognized for its innovation, strong brand heritage, and market-leading distribution network.
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