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Julien Hémard has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, a newly-created position effective July 1. He is currently Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Pacific. Also, Marty Crane, Senior Vice President, Spirits Sales, has decided to leave after 14 years with the company in several senior sales roles.

The trade group recently elected its 2O16-2O17 officers during the WSWA 73rd Annual Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas. Incoming Chairman of the Board is Doug Epstein of Horizon Beverage Group; Vice Chairman is Carmine Martignetti of Martignetti Companies; Senior Vice President is Barkley Stuart of Glazer’s of Dallas, Texas... Read More

HAROLD CURRIE, 91, the war hero and whisky marketer passed away on March 15. He fought World War II tank battles in Europe with the British army, marketed Scotch whisky, wore kilts during visits to Japan, served as chairman of Scotland’s St. Mirren soccer club and as an international soccer... Read More

PAUL PONTALLIER, 59 The managing director of famed first growth estate Château Margaux passed away on March 28. Mr. Pontallier spent more than 3O years at the Château, joining the company in 1983 and becoming the managing director in 199O. He has been widely credited with significant improvements in the... Read More

WILLIAM MICKEL has been promoted to Vice President, National Sales Manager – a newly created position. He will oversee the company’s commercial capabilities including those pertaining to sales, marketing and distributor management. With the addition of this new senior role, along with other organizational changes, Disaronno International is building a... Read More

REBECCA MESSINA has been appointed Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. She will also serve on the company’s executive leadership team. Messina comes to Beam Suntory from The Coca-Cola Co. where she was Senior Vice President, Marketing & Innovation, Venturing and Emerging Brands. Over the course of her... Read More

RODNEY WILLIAMS has been named CMO and EVP Brands. He was previously Moët Hennessy USA’s Executive Vice President, Spirits, and prior to that was Senior Vice President, Hennessy. Before joining the company, Williams held key positions with Jackson Family Wines and Constellation Brands. He is replacing JON POTTER, who has... Read More

JAMES HASKELL has joined the marketing team for Emory Vodka as its Brand Ambassador. In this position he will handle the Eastern Massachusetts region and assist on- and off-premise accounts with product tastings and POS material, organize small- and large-scale events and help develop specialty drinks.

RALPH KAPLAN, 91, President of Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits, a four-generation family business, passed away on March 3. Ralph was a recognized leader, both locally and nationally, receiving dozens of awards for his acumen, including an Honorary Doctorate from Salem State University. He was also a passionate philanthropist, loyal... Read More

GREG TAYLOR has been promoted to lead the company’s entire Wholesale Division. Prior to this he was Senior Vice President.