People

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.

COLLEEN THOMAS has been named as the Association’s new Bourbon Ambassador. In this role she will oversee and execute events and special projects. Thomas was previously Marketing Director for Kentucky-based Flavorman and its sister company, the Distilled Spirits Epicenter, where she promoted and coordinated professional training for the distilling industry.... Read More

JOHN SCARBOROUGH has been named President of Deep Eddy Vodka. He has worked for the company since the early days of its formation and has been Chief Financial Officer since 2O11.