LONDON — SABMiller's corporate affairs leaders have departed the company following the completion of its blockbuster merger with Anheuser-Busch Inbev.

Christina Mills (pictured), who served as director of group communications and reputation at SABMiller since 2014, left the company at the end of last year. The two other heads of SABMiller's global corporate affairs function — sustainable development director Anna Swaithes and John Fraser, who led legal and regulatory affairs — have also departed.

John Davidson, the SABMiller general counsel who added leadership of the corporate affairs division in 2014, has also exited the newly-merged entity. 

In addition, it is understood that four members of SABMiller's global communications team have departed, with another four expected to leave at the end of March. The departures were not unexpected, given the overlap between AB Inbev and SABMiller's communications functions and the overall plan to eliminate at least 3% of the combined work force in an effort to save $1.4bn in annual costs.

New York-based AB Inbev global communications VP Marianne Amssoms retains leadership of the communications team at the newly-merged entity, which was formed by the combination of the world’s two largest brewers.

In a separate development, AB Inbev global director of external communications Karen Couck has left for a senior position at Danone. Her duties are being handled on an interim basis by Richard Farnsworth, AB Inbev's UK-based global director of communications and media relations.

Representatives from AB Inbev declined to comment.