other end a generalist again as general counsel.”
Walker played a pivotal role in the Molson-Coors
“merger of equals.” The partners maintain dual head-
quarters in Denver and Montréal and trade off the
company chairmanship every two years. Walker likes
what he called his “fishing license to go anywhere
and ask any question.” He explained: “It’s really
important for lawyers to have the standing in the
organization to move throughout it—and if they see
the Rocky Mountains. “We have a staff of 10 looking
after our water rights in Colorado. Water is subject to
a highly developed legal system, and we make sure
that the water is clean and the rivers and streams
are unobstructed, which is something lawyers don’t
usually get to do.”
Asked if he still enjoys beer after his long service
in the industry, he was succinct: “Sure, how can you
not like beer?” Walker reports to Chief Executive
There’s an expression: ‘Speak truth to power.’
An effective GC has to willing to do that.”
something that doesn’t seem right that they have
the standing to say something, rather than sitting in
a cubicle and marking up contracts.”
The litigation load is fairly typical for a large seller
of consumer products. “We might find ourselves
in disputes with distributors, tax issues with gov-
ernments and beer company advocacy for alcohol
responsibility is a critical part of what we do.”
Among Walker’s unusual duties is holding what
he calls “moot court” at earnings disclosure time.
“I moot court my colleagues on the enterprise lead-
ership team on our financial results every quarter,
ahead of our earnings call,” he said. “I’ll pretend to
be the journalists and ask penetrating questions.”
Walker takes to the mountains periodically to
check Coors’ water supply from a glacier high in
Officer Peter Swinburn.
ROUTE TO THE TOP
Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public
policy from Duke University in 1980 and his Juris
Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1984. Following
a clerkship with Judge John Butzner of the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, Walker became an
associate at Charlotte, N.C.-based Robinson Brad-
shaw & Hinson, doing trial work (1985-1989). He
joined the U.S. Department of Labor (1989-1991),
where he led the 3,000-employee Employment Stan-
dards Administration, scrutinizing affirmative action
programs and wage-and-hour issues, among other
duties. In 1991, Walker moved to the Department of
Education, where he bore substantial responsibility
for implementing America 2000, President George
H.W. Bush’s schools initiative. He left to become
a partner at what was then Wiley Rein & Fielding,
where he handled complex commercial litigation. He
served as an assistant clearance counsel for the
George W. Bush presidential transition team. Walker
joined Molson Coors in 2002.
PERSONAL
A native of Madison, Wis., Walker enjoys road
biking, tennis, fly fishing and skiing. He is married
to Cynthia Nardini Walker, a homemaker. They have
two sons: Rennie and Alex.
A BOOK AND MOVIE
A Soldier’s Story, by Omar Bradley and District 9.
—RICHARD ACELLO
An earlier version of this article appeared in The
National Law Journal on Nov. 2, 2009.
