Beam Suntory announces CEO transition

Beam Suntory President & CEO Albert Baladi will transition CEO responsibilities - effective October 1, 2023 - to Greg Hughes, the company’s current Senior Vice President Chief Growth & Brands Officer.

Under this succession plan, Baladi will serve as CEO Advisor through year-end and will be engaged as Senior Advisor for the company throughout 2024.

 Baladi has served on the executive leadership team of Beam Suntory for 12 years, including the past five years as President & CEO.  Since he stepped into the CEO role in 2019, Beam Suntory’s annual sales have grown at high single digits to more than $5bn. In addition, the company has significantly accelerated its premiumization trajectory, with premium brands becoming the majority of its sales.

Hughes, who currently serves as Beam Suntory’s SVP Chief Growth & Brands Officer, has more than three decades of experience in consumer goods across marketing, commercial and management roles. 

Since joining Beam Suntory in 2015, Hughes led the company’s largest market as President North America for four years and prior to that as GM of North America. Prior to Beam Suntory, he served in roles with increasing responsibility at Procter & Gamble, Bel Brands USA and Kraft Foods. Hughes holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and is a graduate of the University of Kansas. 

Succession for the brands and marketing organization, currently under Hughes’ leadership, will be announced in the coming months.

Beam Suntory’s brands include Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Basil Hayden and Knob Creek bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki; and Scotch brands including Teacher's, Laphroaig and Bowmore.