We take a look at some of the companies welcoming new faces to top jobs.
We take a look at some of the companies welcoming new faces to top jobs.
Richard Watson has been appointed as the next CEO of Nestlé UK and Ireland.
He is the current Managing Director for Nestlé Confectionery in the UK & Ireland. He becomes CEO of the region in his 27th year with the company, having originally joined Nestle Purina in 1996.
After six years as the current CEO of Nestlé UK and Ireland, Stefano Agostini will become the new Head of Confectionery for Nestlé's Zone Europe.
Both changes take place on March 1, 2023.
Nestlé’s beverage brands in the region include global heavyweights Nescafé, Nespresso and S. Pellegrino as well as local brands such as Buxton natural mineral water.
The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) has appointed Tom Shelston as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2023.
Shelston was preceded by Douglas Murray, IBD Interim Chief Executive Officer and Immediate Past President of the Institute, who will be continuing in the London-based organisation as a Trustee of the Board.
Shelston brings to the IBD a ‘wealth of experience gained across several sectors helping non-profit and membership organisations implement growth strategies based on member and audience engagement and build high-value partnerships’. With expertise in change management, audience insight and segmentation, marketing, operations and strategy, the IBD Board of Trustees says the new CEO is the perfect fit to help the IBD meet its plans for growth and members engagement.
Shelston has delivered projects for the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust among other national and global organisations, increasing their market share and commercial performance on the back of creating highly engaged membership communities.
His initial responsibilities will be to scale the IBD's global reach to create a well-connected and strong community of professionals in the brewing, distilling and allied industries.
The Institute of Brewing & Distilling was originally established as The Laboratory Club in 1886. From inception, its mission has been to provide excellence in technical education for professional brewers and distillers and associated suppliers.
Over 100,000 industry professionals have received their technical education from the organization. The IBD is a global institution with more than 3,000 members across 90 countries. Every year, around 4,000 professionals take its qualifications.
Mindful drinking company ISH has welcomed Stephanie Illgner, former Global Marketing Director as Carlsberg, to lead its marketing efforts and grow its presence in the non-alcoholic drinks market.
Stephanie Illgner's career started in 1993 as a brand manager at Ferrero in Frankfurt, Germany. Since then she has held leading roles at Tchibo, the Coca-Cola Company, Ferrero Scandinavia and Royal Unibrew before joining Carlsberg 7 years ago as Global Marketing Director.
For the last four years at Carlsberg, Stephanie was the head of the ‘beyond beer’ category where she focused on trends and innovation.
Founded in Copenhagen in 2018, ISH offers a range of non-alcoholic wine and spirits in more than 20 countries.
USDA-certified organic tequila seltzer Freshie has named Gerry David, former CEO of Celsius Fitness Drinks, to the newly established role of president, US sales.
In his new role, David will guide sales efforts across all of Freshie’s key markets including Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, as well as the Southeast, including Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
David led a successful turn-around of Celsius, which under his direction saw five consecutive years of record revenue, increasing shareholder value by 35x.
Elsewhere, he has lent his skills in sales and marketing, operations, financial analysis, capital raising, supply chain management, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance to multiple public and private companies spanning 72 countries. In 2016, he was named a Gold Winner in the CEO World Awards and chosen as “The Leader” in the CEO of The Year Category.
Freshie launched in 2021, earned its USDA-certified organic seal in 2022, and is set to launch in Puerto Rico next month as well as introducing a new line of tequila expressions this year.
Infinium Spirits, a premium spirits company based in San Diego, has appointed Jan Tharp as president.
Tharp most recently served as President and CEO of the 123-year-old branded seafood company, Bumble Bee Seafoods: with over $1bn in global revenues. Prior to being named President and CEO, she held the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Jan has an extensive background in relationship management, supply chain and international business, holding several executive leadership positions in the food and beverage sector throughout her career.
Tharp is also a Board member and past co-chair of the Packaging and Processing Women’s Leadership Network, and currently sits on the Advisory Committee for Michigan State University’s School of Packaging.
Established in 2005, Infinium Spirit’s portfolio includes Templeton Rye, Skrewball Whiskey and Seagram’s Vodka.
Loverboy, a maker of premium canned cocktails, sparkling hard teas and spritzes, has made two new appointments.
Derek Hahm has been hired as Senior Vice President of Sales, while Todd Anderson has been named Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy.
Hahm brings more than two decades of experience in the craft beer industry, primarily at the Craft Brew Alliance, where he led national sales operations and helped fortify its partnership with Anheuser-Busch. At Loverboy, Hahm will manage the brand's national sales team and oversee key distributor and retailer relationships, helping grow Loverboy's shelf and floor space across its national retail footprint.
Anderson's experience includes over 20 years working with flavor-driven beverages across Mark Anthony Brands Inc. and Lone River (Diageo), launching and scaling brands in the U.S. and Canada, including White Claw, Mike's Hard Lemonade, Cayman Jack, Lone River Ranch Water, and more. With the Lone River acquisition by Diageo, he focused on the strategic expansion and overall integration, and has extensive experience working with Molson Coors' distribution network. Anderson will oversee Loverboy's commercial marketing and go-to-market strategy across wholesale and retail.