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News
BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS
“standfirst”>Big names join Whyte & Mackay…Tarapaca welcomes new winemaker…New Pepsico CEO…Other news
Big names join Whyte & Mackay
WHYTE & MACKAY has confirmed itself as one to watch having secured the services of two highly rated executives in the last few months. In late August the company announced the arrival of innovation director David Robertson (the famous “Robbo” from the highly creative Jon, Mark & Robbo brand). And as of early October the Glasgow-based supplier will be augmented further by the arrival of James Prescott, former head of the liquor category for leading UK travel retailer World Duty Free.
Whyte & Mackay has perhaps struggled to “punch its weight” in recent years. However, the key brands, W&M and Dalmore, have undergone major regeneration in the last year, and the initial changes appear to have shown the type of vision and direction that was required to get both men to sign up.
Robertson graduated in 1990 with a BSc in brewing and distilling before joninig Guinness plc as a trainee. He moved on to Macallan as distillery manager and was eventually appointed master distiller. Next up came a role as marketing manager for the brand’s rare and collectable division, during which time he oversaw a number of NPD and line-extension projects. Following the Edrington takeover he perfromed a number of roles including launching the fine and rare business and setting up the quirky brand which “immortalised” his name.
Prescott has a very different, but no less illustrious, career. Having started with Oddbins, he moved to (former) travel-retail giant Allders in 1990. In 1999 he joined World Duty Free, just prior to the abolition of intra-EU duty free. He thus played a pivotal role initially in keeping the business alive, and ultimately helping to redefine the notion of airport shopping. Formerly, with an enormous tax advantage, selling liquor to travellers was simply a case of “pile it high, flog it cheap”, but Prescott oversaw the development of a new strategy focused on luxury, indulgence and, most notably, experiential retailing. He was also one of the architects of the enormously successful World of Whiskies concept (see our retail profile on page 44).
Speaking to the drinks business last month, Prescott, a master of understatement, explained, “I know what retailers want.” Robertson’s impressive CV, on the other hand, indicates his sharp eye for what the end-consumer is seeking. A combination of the two indicates interesting times ahead for Whyte & Mackay.
Tarapaca welcomes new winemaker
Ed flaherty has been appointed as the new chief winemaker for Viña Tarapacá, Viña Mar, Casa Rivas and Vitivinícola del Maipo. He will be working alongside Cristían Molina, Camilo Viani and María Elena Qezada, and his appointment marks a major leap forward for the Chilean company.
Flaherty was born in the US and educated at UC Davis. He has an extensive CV which has seen him involved in making a host of excellent wines. Notably, he most recently spent 12 years working in Chile for Viña Cono Sur (owned by Concha y Toro) and Viña Errazuriz. However, his experience is by no means limited to Latin America. He has also held senior roles with Western Wines in the UK, Sainsbury Winery, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards in the US and Argentinian operation, Familia Zuccardi.
He took on the new role last month, replacing oenological director, Sergio Correra, who will continue to serve as a consultant to the board of directors. The Tarapacá team manages over 1,000 hectares of vineyards and has the capacity to produce over 1.5 million cases of wine annually.
New Pepsico CEO
As Expected, August proved to be relatively quiet on the director changes front. One move that did occur was the replacement of Bob Stott by Marc Bolland as CEO of Morissons’ Supermarkets (see July’s the drinks business for details). Elsewhere there were several changes among the two firms at the top of the cola business. Coca-Cola appointed J Alexander Douglas Jr as group president/COO of its North American Group. Mr Douglas was formerly senior VP/chief customer officer in a career with Coca-Cola that commenced in 1988. He is also a director of Radiant Systems but in tandem with his new appointment has resigned his position as a director of Coca-Cola Enterprises.
Following last month’s changes at Pepsi Bottling Group, this month sees the announcement of PepsiCo chairman/CEO, Steven Reinemund’s retirement. Mr Reinemund will step down as CEO on the first of October and will resign the chairmanship in May 2007.
Mr Reinemund, a graduate of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, has had a distinguished business career, having served as president/CEO of Pizza Hut and chairman/CEO of Frito-Lay as well as a director of Unumprovident, Servicemaster and Aviall. He is currently also a director of Johnson & Johnson.
He will be replaced as CEO by Indra Nooyi, who currently serves as president/CFO. Ms Nooyi, an Indian citizen, is a high-profile businesswoman and was voted World’s Fourth Most Powerful Woman by Forbes Magazine in 2006. She is also a director of Motorola and since March this year a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Her career has included a directorship of Timberland as well as service in ABB, Motorola and Boston Consulting Group in the area of corporate planning and strategy, and as a product manager for Johnson & Johnson.
She joined PepsiCo in 1994 as a senior VP for strategic planning and corporate strategy and development, being appointed senior VP/CFO in 2000 and to the board as president/CFO in 2001.
Other news
WSET’s awards supervisory board has welcomed Laura Jewell MW and Alex Anson. Jewell is an agency director for HwCg and has previously been a buyer for Sainsbury’s and The Waverley Group. Anson is trading director for the wine category with Thresher Group.
Diageo GB has promoted David Smith to the role of sales director. He first joined the company in 2000 as marketing director for Guinness.
Premium Familiae Vini elected a new president, Egon Muller.
SAB Miller has welcomed Joanna Botwood as international marketing manager for Peroni Nastro Azzurro. She is already well-acquainted with the brand, having worked for its global creative agency, The Bank.
Villa Maria will be bolstered by the arrival of new chairperson, Karen Fistonich, and two new members of the board, Rob Aitken and Fabian Yukich.
Entoria Winecellars has announced the arrival of Simon Treanor as on-trade sales director. Treanor has previous experience with Bass, Holsten and Carlsberg.
HwCg welcomes Stephen Gerrard as its new international director. The fromer WaverleyTBS man will be responsible for developing international markets.
GH Mumm has a new brand manager, Lucy Cousens. She will be responsible for overseeing all marketing strategies for the brand.
Thresher has appointed Dirk Kind as its new PR manager. Kind, who joins from Lay & Wheeler, will also be responsible for wine list evolution, wine club management and staff training.
© db October 2006