Busch, August Anheuser, III (1937– )

US brewer, who headed the family-run Anheuser-Busch company as president 1974–2002, chief executive officer 1975–2002, and chairman 1977–2006. During his tenure, the firm became a major advertiser on television and made its Budweiser brand consistently one of the best-selling beers in the USA.

He was born in St Louis, Missouri, and joined the family firm in 1957, subsequently working in virtually every department before succeeding his father as president in 1974. He remains a company director.