AG Barr, the company behind popular beverages such as Irn-Bru and Rubicon, has appointed Darren Shapland as its new chairman, effective immediately. Shapland, 59, takes over the role following the interim chairmanship of Susan Barratt, 61, who had been serving since Mark Allen stepped down in January to concentrate on turnaround efforts at Hilton Foods.

Shapland brings extensive experience from the retail and consumer sectors. He previously served as chief executive of Carpetright and currently holds the position of chairman at Hollywood Bowl. Additionally, he is a non-executive director at JD Sports Fashion and has prior board experience as chairman of both Poundland and Topps Tiles. He highlighted AG Barr’s distinctive heritage and portfolio of strong brands as key attributes of the business.

AG Barr’s leadership transition comes at a time when the company is navigating a competitive beverage market, seeking to leverage its established brands while exploring new growth opportunities. The appointment of Shapland reflects the company’s aim to benefit from his background in retail strategy and consumer engagement as it looks to strengthen its market position.