Kirin Holdings Co. said Wednesday its executive vice president, Senji Miyake, will take the helm of the top Japanese brewer in March, succeeding Kazuyasu Kato as president.

The appointment was announced after Kirin overtook Asahi Breweries Ltd. as Japan's biggest beer brewer last year for the first time in nine years. It also followed Kirin's termination this week of negotiations on integration with Suntory Holdings Ltd.

Miyake, 62, has been executive vice president since last March. He is to become president after a general shareholders' meeting on March 26. Kato, 65, is due to become chairman with no representative rights.

Miyake joined Kirin Brewery Co. in 1970 after majoring in economics at Keio University and long worked in the company's sales division. He joined the board in 2002 and became president of Kirin Brewery in 2007.