To most Canadians, the Molson name is part of the very fabric of Canada. Since 1786, when John Molson founded his first brewery in Montreal, it has become synonymous with beer, hockey, and philanthropy. Few realize, however, how close the family came in recent years to losing control of the enterprise. Back to Beer … and Hockey offers intimate details of the life and work of Eric Molson, who not only saved the company, but positioned it to thrive as a global brewery into the twenty-first century. With unprecedented access to the Molson fam- ily, Helen Antoniou traces Eric Molson’s evolution from a young brewmaster captivated by the chem- istry of beer-making to chairman of Molson. Quiet by nature, he had to confront big egos, navigate complex boardroom politics, and even battle a dis- ruptive cousin who tried to push him out of the way. Antoniou’s carefully researched account de- tails how the introverted Eric overcame his aver- sion to conflict to take the company from a failing conglomerate back to its core business of beer, eventually turning it into one of the world’s leading brewers. Today, he has passed the torch to his sons, the seventh generation, but his steadfast vision prevails. An absorbing account of one man’s struggle at the helm of an international brewing giant, Back to Beer … and Hockey shows how Eric Molson’s guiding principles influenced the future of Molson – both the enterprise and the family. “A fascinating portrait of a man, a time, and a company. Elegantly written and based on unparal- leled access, the book is a delight of remembrances and vignettes. It stands with the best of this genre and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of family businesses.” Yvan Allaire, executive chair of the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations Helen Antoniou is an executive coach for corpo- rate leaders and family business owners, as well as a volunteer board member in the areas of health, education, and the arts. She lives in Montreal. 1 M Q U P S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 B I O G R A P H Y • B U S I N E S S H I S T O R Y Back to Beer … and Hockey The Story of Eric Molson helen antoniou A personal look into a quiet man’s quest to make Molson a global brewer. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S April 2018 978-0-7735-5287-6 $39.95T CDN, $39.95T US, £33.00 cloth 6.25 x 9.25 456pp 93 b&w images eBook available Also available in French Le retour à la bière… et au hockey L’histoire d’Eric Molson 978-0-7735-5313-2 $39.95T CDN, $39.95T US, £33.00 cloth 6.25 x 9.25 496pp 93 b&w images eBook available