We take a look at some of the companies welcoming new faces to top jobs in the beverage industry.
Tractor Beverage Company, a creator of certified organic, non-GMO food service beverages, has appointed Julie Nelson to its executive team.
Nelson brings over 25 years of experience in supply chain and operations, product commercialization, frontline sales and sales strategy. She most recently held the position of Chief Operating Officer at AppHarvest where she led the company's operations.
Prior to this, Nelson helped consumer and industrial organizations navigate supply chain challenges during COVID-19 as an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company.
Her extensive tenure at PepsiCo included significant positions as Vice President of Global Operations and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives in the North American Beverages Supply Chain.
In her capacity as COO at Tractor Beverage Company, Nelson will lead the company's Operations, Innovation, FSQA, Enterprise Projects and IT teams.
International Beverage has announced the appointment of two senior leaders: with both joining the company's management team as it sets out a ‘period of ambitious growth’.
Veronica Amago joins the company as Global Sales Director. With over two decades’ experience in the global spirits business, Amago is a graduate of the University of Essex (UK) and holds a Masters in Positive Leadership and Strategy. After beginning her career with a series of national and international roles at Dyson, her progression into the world of spirits began at Beam Suntory International, where she worked across Eastern Europe and India, latterly as Commercial Director Nordic and Eastern Europe.
She then moved to Whyte & Mackay, with roles including Director, Greater Europe. Here, she was responsible for delivering top-line growth as well as developing and extending the company’s portfolio of products. 2020 saw her spearhead the business’s response to the Covid pandemic, proposing, establishing and leading a nerve centre to steer strategy for the organisation. Her most recent role as Director, Developing Markets involved developing previously untapped markets, including Australia, Nigeria and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Alan Mitchell joins the company as Operations Director.
Mitchell graduated from the University of Glasgow and began his career at Hiram Walker. A move to Allied Distillers, where he held roles as both Distillery Manager and Head of Quality, exposed him to every aspect of distilling. After working for Pernod Ricard Pacific in Australia, Alan spent over a decade with Beam Suntory where he held roles including Vice President Quality and Monozukuri – USA, and Director of Global Lean Transformation – USA. During this time he led Casa Sauza Tequila through the agave crisis, and developed a global CO2 and water reduction program.
After holding Operations Director roles with both DEVRO and Competitive Capabilities International, Alan is delighted to be returning to the spirits business, bringing his global expertise and extensive experience to International Beverage.
As the spirits arm of one of the world’s top ten drinks producers ThaiBev, International Beverage is responsible for the global sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands, including single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn; the blended Scotch Hankey Bannister; and Caorunn, the super premium Scottish gin.
Premium drinks company Drinksology Kirker Greer (DKG) has appointed Ali Pickering as its new Chief Marketing Officer, completing its Executive Team line up.
Ali Pickering brings over two decades of marketing experience to the DKG team.
“As Marketing Director at Molson Coors, she has amassed a wealth of strategic and brand-building expertise, working with some of the most iconic beer and cider brands across more than 50 markets worldwide,” notes DKG.
“Her impressive tenure as Marketing Director saw her lead a high-performing, engaged team of marketers to create powerful brand strategies, deliver outstanding commercial results, and harness innovation to close gaps in their portfolio, even smashing a few records along the way.
“Ali's addition [to DKG] marks the final piece of the DKG Executive Team puzzle, solidifying the company's position as one of the strongest players in the industry. With a clear focus on brand, market, and people prioritisation, DKG is set to take the next giant leap forward in its strategic growth.”
The DKG Executive Team includes co-founders and joint CEOs, Steven Pattison and Richard Ryan; Donal McAteer (CFO) and Ryan McFarland (CCO).
Belfast-headquartered DKG is split across two divisions. Kirker Greer Spirits owns, manages, and distributes a range of premium spirit brands internationally: with a portfolio including Ukiyo Japanese Spirits, Kirker Shamrock Whiskey, Ginato Italian Gin and Jawbox Irish Gin.
The second division of DKG, Drinksology Creative, is a design, branding, and marketing agency which specialises in alcohol and has worked with brand homes including The Dead Rabbit, New York, The Johnnie Walker Experience, Edinburgh and Roe & Co Distillery, Dublin.
Beyoncé-backed Lemon Perfect has hired former Onda Chief Operating Officer, David Kimmell, as Chief Supply Chain Officer.
The Atlanta-headquartered brand – the fastest-growing in the flavor enhanced water category, according to Nielsen – says Kimmell will be tasked with implementing plans for a supply chain ‘with unconstrained capacity and world-class product quality’.
With 20 years of operations experience and nearly 15 years in food and beverage, Kimmell has helped scale multiple companies from infancy to acquisition.
“Throughout his career, Kimmell has been recognized for his ability to innovate and facilitate growth while streamlining operations and maximizing productivity,” says Lemon Perfect. “Kimmell has been lauded in the food and beverage industry for pioneering new systems and processes and creating exceptional consumer product experiences.”
Kimmell joins Lemon Perfect after serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Onda, the Shay Mitchell-backed tequila seltzer brand. Before joining Onda, Kimmell served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Spindrift for nine years, taking the brand from the sale of its first case to becoming a household brand in the sparkling water category.
[Picture credit: Lemon Perfect]
Husky Technologies has announced the appointment of John Linker as Chief Financial Officer.
Effective October 19, 2023, Linker will replace John Hafferty, who joined Husky in 2019 following the company’s transition to new ownership.
Linker joins Husky from Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2022 as well as Chief Operations Officer since 2023.
Prior to that, Linker was an executive at JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. for more than nine years from 2012 to 2022 where he held leadership positions including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to Serta and JELD-WEN, Linker worked for UTC Aerospace Systems (NYSE:UTX), Wachovia Securities and Bank of America. Linker earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from Duke University.
Headquartered in Canada, Husky is the largest brand-name supplier of injection molding equipment and services to the plastics industry. Alongside the beverage industry, its systems and equipment also cater for the medical and healthcare markets and other consumer products.