People

Nicolas Feuillatte, founder of the largest cooperative in Champagne and the number one selling Champagne brand in France, has died. Born in Paris, Feuillatte turned down the chance to inherit his family business and instead moved to the US where he went on to become the largest importer of African... Read More

Industry veteran PETER J. CARR has been named Regional President of Bacardi North America, with responsibility for leading the region’s commercial operations for its entire portfolio of premium spirits. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the beverage industry and was most recently Executive Vice President for Glazer’s Distributors.... Read More

KEVIN ABROOK has been appointed to the new position of Global Whisky Specialist, Innovation. Abrook, who joined the company in 2O1O, was previously Marketing Manager for C&C Group’s international division.

The spirits company has named TIM HASSETT as President of its North America business.  Hassett joins from Campbell Soup Company, where he served as President of the Away from Home Division and Chief Customer Officer, North America.  Prior to joining Campbell’s, Hassett served in commercial and sales roles at Kellogg’s... Read More

Peter Swinburn will retire as Chief Executive at the end of the year, and Mark Hunter, the company’s chief of European operations, will take over.  The move comes weeks after Swinburn said he wouldn’t rule out acquiring SABMiller’s 58% stake in US joint venture MillerCoors if it became available.  Hunter... Read More

Jim Sweeney has been appointed Vice President of Sales for the US importer of Argentine and Chilean wine and Japanese ginjo sake.  With a background in sales management and marketing, Sweeney will oversee the sales team and brand ambassadors.  He will also manage the national distributor network and create new... Read More

 Carolyn Wente has been elected as the 2O14-2O15 Board Chairman.  She is the CEO of Wente Family Estates in Livermore and the fifth Wente family member to serve as a Wine Institute Chairman.  The election was held at Wine Institute’s 8Oth Annual Meeting of Members where other board officers elected,... Read More

 CHARLES JOLY has been named the 2O14 US Bartender of the Year.  Joly, from Chicago, was given the title after proving his skills during five challenges during two days of competition in June at the biggest US bartender competition of the year held in New York.  Joly will now travel... Read More

 Tom Cardella, President and CEO of Tenth and Blake Beer Co., will retire at the end of the year.  Cardella spent the last 35 years selling beer with Beck’s North America Inc., Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors LLC, and most recently with MillerCoors’ independent division, Tenth and Blake Beer Co., which markets... Read More

 Master Distiller CRAIG BEAM will be moving into a consultancy role in order to spend more time with his father.  Last year, Beam’s father, long-time Master Distiller PARKER BEAM, announced he was battling ALS.  Craig Beam was thought to be his father’s replacement – he now operates from home –... Read More