BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY
Master Distiller Emeritus ELMER T. LEE recently celebrated his 9Oth birthday in the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse at the distillery. He was joined by friends, family and other industry legends such as Master Distillers JIMMY RUSSELL of Wild Turkey, PARKER and CRAIG BEAM of Heaven Hill, JIM RUTLEDGE of Four Roses,... Read More
PERNOD RICARD USA
Emmanuel Cargill has been named Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Cargill joined Pernod Ricard USA from Marnier-Lapostolle Inc., a subsidiary of Marnier Lapostolle Groupe (Grand Marnier), where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He is also a member of the Pernod Ricard USA Executive Committee. Additionally,... Read More
William Grant & Sons
Jonathan Ashworth has been hired as Commercial Director for Stolichnaya Vodka. The company took over distribution for the brand from Pernod Ricard in several markets, including the US, last year and Ashworth is a former member of Pernod Ricard’s Stolichnaya Brand Organization team. Ashworth previously worked at Allied Domecq Duty... Read More
Bacardi Limited
Michael J. Dolan and John S. Galantic have been elected as Directors to the Board. They will take the places of JAY MCDOWELL and GUY PEYRELONGUE, who are retiring. Dolan, who retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Viacom, Inc. in December 2OO6, currently serves on the... Read More
W.J. Deutsch & Sons
Jean-Francois Bonneté has been appointed Senior Vice President of Spirits, heading up Deutsch’s new spirits division. The former President-CEO of Mystique Brands LLC and the prior Director of North America for Cognac Ferrand, Bonneté brings more than twelve years of experience in the US spirits industry.
OBITUARY – JIMMY BEDFORD
JIMMY BEDFORD, former master distiller of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, died Friday, August 7. He was 69. His body was found outside a barn at his farm in Lynchburg. The apparent cause was a heart attack. Bedford started at the distillery in 1968 and worked in the yeasting, fermenting, milling and... Read More
RAY CHADWICK of DIAGEO CHATEAU & ESTATE WINES
has been elected Wine Institute Chairman for the 2OO9 to 2O1O fiscal year at Wine Institute’s 75th Commemorative Annual Meeting of Members. Also elected were TOM KLEIN of Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg First Vice Chairman; DAVID KENT of the Wine Group headquartered in San Francisco, Second Vice Chairman; KATHLEEN... Read More
CHUCK SMITH, Senior Vice President, Trade Relations, PERNOD RICARD USA,
retired on July 15. Chuck’s career in the beverage alcohol industry spanned 38 years starting in 1971 with the E&J Gallo Winery. He joined Remy Cointreau New York in 1991 as Executive Vice President of Sales and in 1999 joined Pernod Ricard as Senior Vice President of Sales for the... Read More
MILLERCOORS has named RICK GOMEZ
as Vice President of the Coors family of brands. Gomez will be responsible for overseeing the overall brand strategy and positioning for Coors Light and Coors Banquet. Gomez comes to MillerCoors from PepsiCo Inc. where he most recently served as Vice President of Marketing for waters, enhanced waters and juices. ... Read More
BACARDI LIMITED has named JACQUES CROISETIÈRE
as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President. He succeeds RALPH MORERA who is retiring after almost twenty years with the company. Croisetière will join the company on August 3 and be based in the Bacardi Limited global headquarters in Hamilton Bermuda subject to approval by the Bermuda Department... Read More