Brewing business
Nigel Tordoff’s career at beer brewer Molson Coors started with a Business Studies degree at Staffordshire University – a pathway his son is now following 28 years later. Having graduated in 1992, he has risen through the ranks at the global brewing company, from running a pub to running a UK business unit, alongside a property business he operates with the help of his family.
Molson Coors, whose brands include Coors Light, Carling and Staropramen, sell in more than 50 countries, employ over 18,000 people worldwide and operate 31 breweries. Now Sales Director for Off Trade, Nigel said: “If it’s in a bottle or a can, I look after it. I look after all the supermarkets and convenience stores in the UK and Ireland. We’re not yet the biggest in the market place, we’re third, but more importantly we’re rated first choice by our customers.”
Beer career
Nigel started his career in the beer brewing industry during his University placement year, at Bass PLC in Leeds, a business that was later bought by Coors. “That was my first industry placement and when I went into the work place it was the first time I’d been shown a computer of any capability,” he said. “I loved working there and learnt a lot, so on my second placement I went back and then I got a job after I finished my degree.”
He continued: “I’ve been with the company since I was 19 and I wouldn’t change anything. When I started I didn’t plan on staying at one business for my whole career but every time I thought about moving I’ve been given a development opportunity or been promoted. I worked in Ontario, Canada, for two years and have done a reasonable amount of travelling.
“It’s a global business but it has strong family values. It’s owned by Geoff Molson and Pete Coors and I know them personally. I’m in the top 100 leaders within the organisation and we get together once a year to share best practices. I feel very similarly about Molson Coors as I do about Staffordshire University, because there’s a lot of love for what Staffs did for me.”
Return to Staffs
Nigel, now 45 years old and living in Doncaster in South Yorkshire with his wife and three sons, recently returned to Staffordshire University to attend an open day with his eldest, 18-year-old Jack.
He said: “When I started at Staffordshire it was a Polytechnic and became a University during my second year. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and it was a bit unusual returning. The Brindley Building is still there but the site is probably three times bigger. It’s kept its DNA, though.
“Jack wants to study Business Studies with Enterprise, so slightly different to me. I never intended for him to go to the same University as me, but we visited seven or eight universities’ open days and we felt Staffs was the right place. He’ll have a great time when he starts in September.”
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