Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP), a global leader in sustainable glass packaging solutions, has announced a comprehensive senior executive restructuring designed to decentralise its international operations.
Following the retirement of global Chief Executive Officer Mike Dick at the end of May 2026, the organisation will eliminate the singular global CEO layer. Instead, the regional heads of Europe, North America, and Africa will report directly to Mark Porto, the Executive Chairman of the parent entity Ardagh Group.
The structural transition represents an industry-wide pivot toward regionalised supply chain management, empowering local business units to respond rapidly to changing market demands, energy costs, and regulatory frameworks.
Decentralisation of the Global Reporting Structure
The decision to transition from a centralised global chief executive model to direct regional oversight marks a strategic pivot for Ardagh Group. By restructuring its management reporting, AGP aims to bypass operational bottlenecks and accelerate decision-making across its primary territories.
Under the new hierarchy:
AGP-North America: Led by Brian Brandstatter, reporting directly to Mark Porto.
AGP-Africa: Led by Paul Curnow, reporting directly to Mark Porto.
AGP-Europe: Managed by the newly appointed Alexander Kuzan, reporting directly to Mark Porto.
Mark Porto characterised the transition as a pivotal moment for the organisation, noting that by empowering regional leaders and sharpening commercial focus, AGP is positioning itself to operate with greater speed and agility. Porto emphasised that the new structure establishes a strong foundation for sustainable growth and continued industry leadership in a highly dynamic global market.
European Leadership and Novelis Integration
To spearhead the newly restructured European business, AGP has appointed industry veteran Alexander Kuzan as Chief Executive Officer of AGP-Europe. Kuzan joins the organisation from global aluminium giant Novelis, where he served as Vice President and General Manager of the European Can division since 2017.
Kuzan’s background brings a wealth of high-level experience in managing complex, circular packaging portfolios and executing European-wide commercial strategies. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Zurich and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Kuzan expressed excitement regarding his transition into the glass sector, highlighting AGP's heritage of quality, innovation, and customer-centric service. His primary mandate will involve driving operational performance across European manufacturing plants and partnering with regional beverage and food brands to meet their specific glass packaging requirements.
Commercial and Analytical Modelling
A secondary but critical pillar of the restructure is the expansion of Timur Colak's executive duties. Colak, who currently serves as AGP’s Chief Transformation Officer, will assume the additional role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for the global business, reporting directly to Mark Porto.
The combination of the transformation and commercial offices indicates a highly modernised, data-driven approach to sales and client management. Colak’s mandate focuses on migrating the company’s global sales process to a structured, value-based model.
Colak noted that AGP is strengthening its commercial operations by introducing enhanced analytics and commercial modelling tools to underpin the entire sales process. He stated that the commercial teams will focus on delivering exceptional value for both customers and the business, ensuring that transactional client relations are converted into long-term strategic partnerships.
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