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STEVE ACKERMAN has been appointed to the newly created position of National Sales Manager, Vice President.  Before coming to Van Gogh Imports, he was the Assistant National Sales Manager for Distillerie Stock USA.  Prior to that he served as the Northeast Division Manager for William Grant & Sons Inc.

Chief Executive PAUL WALSH will retire after 13 years at the helm of the drinks company, with Chief Operating Officer IVAN EMNEZES taking the reins July 1.  During his tenure Walsh transformed Diageo from a conglomerate of food interests ranging from the Burger King chain to a dough manufacturer into... Read More

JONATHAN YUSEN has been promoted to Managing Director & President USA.  Yusen joined William Grant & Sons in 2OO7 as Senior Vice President Marketing for the US.  Prior to that he held management roles with Allied Domecq and General Mills.  He succeeds SIMON HUNT, who was recently promoted to the... Read More

ROB MCNEILL has been hired as Director of Winemaking – a newly created position for the company.    He has served as a member in many organizations including the American Society of Enology and Viticulture, Napa Valley Vintners, Atlas Peak Appellation Association, and Mendocino Grape Growers Associations.

Tony M. Bagnulo has been appointed Vice President, On-Premise Marketing.  In this newly created hybrid marketing and sales role, he will lead all on-premise programs, management and training as well as analysis and monitoring of the on-premise account universe for the company’s portfolio.  Bagnulo has a decade of experience growing... Read More

Carlos Lozano has been appointed to lead the On-Premise National Account Division.  Lozano possesses over 2O years of experience in the wine and spirits industry.  His national account background includes managing portfolios for Diageo North America and Pernod Ricard USA.  Most recently, he was Director of National Accounts for Monin... Read More

Nik Fordham has been appointed Master Distiller.  In this position he will oversee production for the brand at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Laverstoke Mill, Hampshire, England, due to open later this year.  As Master Distiller, Fordham will join Ivano Tonutti, the brand’s Master of Botanicals.

TOM LOONEY is being promoted from Chief Commercial Officer to President.  He replaces Sheila Stanziale who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.  Jeff Ivey, currently Senior VP of Route to Market Strategy, will take Looney’s place.

The founder of Napa Valley’s infamous Chateau Montelena passed away on March 14.  Barrett founded the Calistoga winery in 1972, and shot almost immediately to world renown when critics famously favored his 1973 Chardonnay over four white Burgundies at the 1976 Paris Tasting – is often credited with elevating the... Read More

The former president of Maison Krug Champagne, died on Thursday, March 7.  He was the fifth generation to oversee the production of the legendary Champagne, along with his younger brother Rémi.  During his tenure as company president from 1975 to 2OO2, Henri finessed the Grande Cuvée, and launched Krug Clos... Read More