John Barnett has resigned as president and ceo of Molson Breweries after more than 26 years in the beer business.

He will be leaving the company on Nov. 19 to become regional chief executive for the Americas for Rothman’s International. Based in Toronto, Barnett will have responsibility for Rothman’s business in Canada, the u.s., and the Caribbean.

Barnett was head of Molson USA from 1989 to 1995 at which time he was brought back to Canada to replace Bruce Pope at the Toronto-based brewing operation.

He had been chief operating officer of Carling O’Keefe Breweries when, in 1989, the merger of Carling and Molson took place.

The Molson Companies, the brewing company’s parent, had been assessing ways of integrating management of the two companies. However, James Arnett, president and ceo of The Molson Companies, says that Barnett will be replaced and that his position will not disappear.

‘There will be a replacement for Mr. Barnett but I really haven’t had a chance, since we got the news (Oct. 19), to turn our attention to precisely how we’re going to go about choosing his successor,’ says Arnett.

Molson has committed itself to its core business – brewing – and over the past few years has divested itself of non-related holdings such as its chemicals business and Home Depot. In June, Molson Companies bought back from Foster’s Brewing Group the 50% of Molson Breweries that it didn’t own.

Molson Companies still owns the Beaver Lumber chain but, for accounting purposes, treats it as a discontinued business. It has announced it will be selling the operation.