People

FRANK B. SOUSA, Jr., 65The President of Colonial Wholesale Beverage Co. passed away unexpectedly on July 25. Born in Fall River, Mr. Sousa graduated from Coyle-Cassidy High School in 1963 and from Boston College with an Accounting degree in 1967.  He started with Colonial Wholesale Beverage in 1963, and in... Read More

EDWIN H. NIELSEN, 93Edwin H. Nielsen, the great-grandson of Bacardi founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, has passed away in Spain.  Born in Santiago de Cuba and raised and educated in the United States, Mr. Nielsen served heroically in World War II and received four medals: the Bronze Star, Purple Heart,... Read More

Robert Furniss-Roe has been appointed President of Bacardi North America, with responsibility for leading all operations in the region for its portfolio of spirits.  He succeeds John P. Esposito, who recently announced his planned retirement.  Furniss-Roe most recently served as Regional President of Latin America and Vice President of Global... Read More

PHIL PARNELL, 59The executive chairman of the Drambuie Liqueur Company, Phil Parnell, has passed away after a short illness.  The company said he died after being admitted to hospital, suffering from cancer, earlier in June.  Mr. Parnell was appointed to the boards of Drambuie Ltd and the Drambuie Liqueur Company... Read More

CYNTHIA GREEN of Greenwood Wine & Spirits in Wakefield, MA was presented the 2011 Retailer Of The Year for Massachusetts. New to the industry, Cynthia Green purchased an existing liquor license in June, 1995 and relocated and opened the business as Greenwood Wine & Spirits on December 1, 1995.  Her... Read More

The NCSLA Executive Committee for fiscal year ending June 3O, 2O12 has been announced.  Serving as President is Massachusetts ABCC General Counsel WILLIAM A. KELLEY, JR.  Kelley has been the General Counsel of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (“MA-ABCC”) since 1991 and has been a faculty member for the... Read More

DAVID B. KENT, CEO of The Wine Group LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, became Wine Institute Chairman for the 2O11-2O12 fiscal year at Wine Institute’s 77th Annual Meeting of Members held at the Sonoma Mission Inn.  Kent has been Chief Executive Officer of The Wine Group, which operates a dozen... Read More

The independent craft brewing company has hired ANDREW (ANDY) THOMAS as President of Commercial Operations.  In his role Thomas will be accountable for all sales and marketing activities at the company.  Thomas has more than 2O years of experience in consumer packaged goods and the beverage industry.  He recently served... Read More

Charles Andrews has been named General Manager – overseeing sales, marketing and public relations.  Andrews brings with him over 37 years of wholesale industry management experience.  He joined National Distributing Company as President in 2OO3 and was part of the team that oversaw its 2OO7 merger with Republic Distributing Company,... Read More

Eva Bertran has been named VP-Marketing for the company’s entire portfolio of imported and domestic wines. A native of Barcelona, Spain, Bertran joined the Freixenet Group in 1986, launching the company’s California winery, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, and helping to establish the Spanish firm’s American subsidiary and import arm,... Read More