Vietnam’s largest private beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat Group has named David Riddle, the British vice-chairman of the group, its new CEO and legal representative.

Riddle was appointed one day after the firm’s founder and CEO Tran Qui Thanh as well as deputy CEO Tran Uyen Phuong were arrested and Tran Ngoc Bich, who is also a deputy CEO of Tan Hiep Phat, was charged but was not taken into custody.

Phuong and Bich are Thanh's daughters.

Riddle, born in 1950, has worked for Tan Hiep Phat, based in Binh Duong Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, for more than 13 years. 

He has management experience at leading global corporations and has contributed significantly to Tan Hiep Phat’s development, the firm said in a statement.

Thanh and Phuong operated the firm for years, so their charges will definitely affect the group’s operation, a representative of Tan Hiep Phat told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday.

However, Tan Hiep Phat will do its utmost to minimize the negative impacts of the case on its operations and partners with its management and human resources developed for many years, according to the group’s statement.

The group is committed to maintaining jobs and incomes for its thousands of workers.

It will also continue fulfilling its commitments to domestic and foreign customers and partners, including charity programs.

Investigators of the Ministry of Public Security on Monday detained Thanh and Phuong, and filed charges against Bich.

Tan Hiep Phat currently provides beverage products in Vietnam and 16 other countries.

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